More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
An MP has sought assurances local roads in Dartford will not be gridlocked with lorries parking overnight in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
On Monday night MPs were asked to approve regulations underpinning contingency plans for managing freight county-wide when the transition period ends at midnight on December 31.
A specialist form of delegated legislation, known as a statutory instrument, is to be used to stem the flow of lorries queuing to access the Channel Tunnel in the event of delays.
It forms part of Operation Brock, the planned traffic management system in Kent for use in the event no deal is struck with the EU.
Dartford MP Gareth Johnson sought reassurances his constituency – often regarded as the "gateway to Kent" via the Dartford Crossing – would not suffer under the weight of any freight traffic restrictions.
In particular he asked Transport Ministers for clarity that local streets would not be used as bypasses or overnight stopping places.
During a short debate in the House of Commons Mr Johnson said: “My constituency is, in many ways, the gateway to Kent from both London and Essex, via the Dartford crossing.
“Will she assure me that her Department will use its best endeavours to ensure that lorries do not use local, small roads either for travelling to a different location or for parking up overnight?”
In response, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Rachel Maclean said: “He and his constituents can be assured that the powers we are taking in this legislation require Kent lorries to stick to certain specified routes only if they are crossing the border.
“I hope that that provides him with some reassurance; I am more than happy to meet him to discuss this matter much further.”
The amendments, which extend police powers until October 2021, include being able to ask drivers to produce the correct documentation, direct them to use motorways and issue fines of £300 if breaches occur.
They add new requirements for drivers to obtain a valid Kent Access Permit (KAP) to allow them to take goods to the EU via the Channel Tunnel or the Port of Dover.
The order also allows the government to restrict KAPs to lorries carrying only priority goods.
Priority will be given through the Operation Brock traffic management system to vehicles carrying commodities that meet two out of the three selection criteria.
These are those commodities that are "highly perishable or lose most or all of their economic value within 5 days," are "live animals" or where "delays to the goods would give rise to a disproportionate economic impact on a geographical area of the UK".
Following checks at a "prioritisation site" at Ebbsfleet to determine if a cross-Channel HGV driver is carrying one of the items listed above and that they are holding a valid KAP, they would be given a Priority Goods Permit.
This would allow them to travel down the A2/M2, then A249 before joining the M20 and bypassing the queues between J8 and J9 and the holding site at Sevington, to allow them to get to the port.
Following the debate in the Commons, Mr Johnson said: "Whilst I remain optimistic we will secure a deal with the EU, if this is not possible we have to ensure local residential roads in Dartford are not used by lorries for parking up at night whilst waiting to cross the Channel.
"Operation Brock seeks to do this by using the County’s motorways and designated lorry sites to administer any new customs processes that are needed.”
According to the government's reasonable worst-case scenario delays, caused by the inspection of customs documents, could cut the freight flow to 60 to 80 per cent of normal levels in the weeks following the end of the transition period.
This in turn could lead to queues through Kent of up to 7,000 lorries in February.
Evidence was also presented to House of Lords EU Goods sub-committee on Monday from two panels of witnesses on traffic management in and out of Kent.
Yesterday huge queues were seen forming on the M20 amid French trials for post-Brexit procedures.
And elsewhere in parts of east Kent villagers haved claimed the new border checks facilities will "cage them in" and rob them of their way of life.
