More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
The government has come under fire from Labour county councillors for its refusal to disclose information about traffic disruption and the environmental impact of a post-Brexit lorry park in Ashford.
KentOnline has been refused information about the impact of the 66-acre lorry park in Sevington which is under construction and will act as a site for lorries to be diverted to in the event of disruption along the M20.
Although heavy rain has meant the site won't be fully operational until February, up to 1,000 trucks could still be stored on the land from January 1.
But the Department for Transport has rejected a Freedom of Information request for any assessment made on the impact of the lorry park - or the 'back-up site' at the nearby Waterbrook Park estate.
It has argued it is not in the public interest to release the information as the policy surrounding lorry parks and 'Inland Border Facilities' is a live issue and as such cannot be released.
The leader of the opposition Labour group on Kent County Council - Cllr Dara Farrell - raised the issue at a full council meeting earlier this month.
He said: “How can the government still be claiming that the impact assessment for the lorry park sites on the environment and traffic disruption are not in the public interest?
"What does the leader of the council intend to do about it?”
Cllr Farrell also questioned whether there was enough time to recruit additional highways workers to manage the Operation Brock scheme along the M20.
He also expressed misgivings over an expanded scheme designed to curb lorries from parking up on residential streets and whether there would be enough highways officers to police the Operation Brock scheme.
“I am sure that even the most ardent of Brexiteers did not vote to see Kent Police chasing lorries back onto the M20," he added.
Referring to the latest report setting out the preparations KCC and other authorities were making to minimise the impact of Brexit, he said there was “a worrying lack of detail".
He said time was limited to recruit additional staff and that it was not clear where the funds would be coming from to implement the scheme designed to deter lorries from parking in residential roads across six other districts in east Kent.
KCC said it was arranging for contracts “to ensure the seven boroughs can be patrolled and is also arranging for signage to be installed on all relevant roads".
Due to the rain delay, HMRC checks due to take place on the Sevington plot will instead be conducted on the Waterbrook estate.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: “From January 1 customs checks on HGVs will be taking place at the Ashford Waterbrook site before permanently moving to the Sevington site in February 2021 if not before.
“The Sevington site will open as planned on January 1 to manage traffic should there be disruption.”
