News

Council chiefs in Kent have urged the Government to find a permanent solution to the traffic chaos caused by Operation Stack.

Stack is implemented on large sections of the M20 when there is a backlog at the county's ports, causing huge volumes of traffic to be diverted on to surrounding roads and villages.

Repair work on the Channel Tunnel following last week's fire means Stack is likely to be brought in regularly over the coming months, leading to further road chaos.

Kent County Council leader Paul Carter has renewed his call for ministers to fund a permanent Stack lorry park amid concerns that the current situation is harming business.

He said a site has already been identified but the cost of building it should not fall on Kent taxpayers.

Councillor Carter said: "We have told the Government time and time again that we must have funding for a long-term solution to Operation Stack - a Stack lorry park.

"We have even suggested to Government a way to pay for this, through a vignette or Britdisc.

"We have identified a site for the lorry park and we are doing all the ground work to prepare a planning application. But the cost of building the lorry park and running it cannot fall to the Kent taxpayer.

"There is a perception that because of transport issues Kent is often closed for business. This can be a massive inhibitor to inward investment.

"We know situations will continue to arise that necessitate a permanent lorry park so we must have a permanent solution."