Lorries persistently parked illegally overnight in Ashford are set to be clamped under a new crackdown by road chiefs.

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) and Kent County Council are planning to pilot a six month clamping scheme across the town in a bid to stop HGVs parking on business parks and in lay-bys.

The problem is particularly bad on Orbital Park, Ashford Business Park at Sevington, and the Henwood, Ellingham and Cobbs Wood industrial estates.

The clamping crackdown is the first of its kind in Kent.

A report, due to be discussed at the Ashford Joint Transportation Board (JTB) meeting next week, says: “During the discussions with KCC it was decided that the only way to fully address the problem of illegally parked HGVs in areas where all other efforts such as education, the introduction of specific parking restrictions and active enforcement have failed, was to clamp persistent offending vehicles.”

During the six-month period ABC’s civil enforcement officers will work with multi-lingual bailiffs to advise drivers parking illegally of the imminent clamping operation and direct them to a truck stop.

It is not known when the pilot will start but the report adds: “We are also working with the Ashford Truck Stop to ensure availability of space for HGVs during this pilot.

Foreign lorries often ignore any parking restrictions, and escape paying the fines issued to them when they are ticketed by wardens.

The problem has also spread to other areas of the town, including Henwood, Ellingham and Cobbs Wood, none of which are covered by an overnight waiting ban. In addition, there are a number of lay-bys across the borough that are regularly used by HGVs for overnight parking such as the ones on the A20 at Hothfield.

The scheme will be discussed by the JTB next Wednesday at 7pm at the Civic Centre, in Tannery Lane.

What do you think of the idea of clamping lorries? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk.