Paul Francis

Plans for a huge lorry park off the M20 to cope with Operation Stack are unlikely to go ahead unless there is a change in the law, it has emerged.

Kent County Council has earmarked a site off the M20 near Aldington for a park capable of holding some 3,000 lorries when Operation Stack is triggered.

It had been hoping to submit a formal planning application for the scheme this year.

Read Paul's blog on the Operation Stack latest here>>>

But it has been revealed that neither KCC nor the Government is in a position to push ahead because legislation dating back to 1992 means only private companies are permitted to develop new motorway services – and the lorry park would be such a facility.

It is unclear why the obstacle to the project has only now been discovered and whether it has been mentioned in discussions between Government officials and the county council.

But it represents a setback to efforts to find a solution to the continuing problems caused when sections of the coast-bound M20 are closed because of Operation Stack.

Now the county council is pinning its hopes on new legislation that would give it the power to develop the site.

It wants the Government to back a bid that would allow it to develop the lorry park without involving the private sector.

County transport chiefs says if their bid is supported, it would remove "a significant obstacle preventing the Highways Agency from engaging with (it) on the Operation Stack proposal."

Cllr Nick Chard (Con), KCC’s new cabinet member for highways, said it was "reasonable" to ask why the possible legal obstacle had not been identified earlier but it was unclear who bore responsibility.

"I would have thought that it was fairly key if the Government had said, well this is a motorway service area and these rules apply.

"What we are now asking for is that the law is changed so it can allow the public sector to be involved," he said.

"We do need a proper project in place that copes with Operation Stack and it is not right that it is just the people of Kent that have to put up with it.

"It is such a big issue for Kent and has an enormous impact on businesses here and elsewhere outside the county."