The moveable barrier used during Operation Stack is being scrapped

by James Scott

The Highways Agency is scrapping the concrete barrier used as part of Operation Stack - which has cost the taxpayer more than £2.5million over the past four years and only been used twice.

The agency, part of the government’s department for transport, said the Quickchange Moveable Barrier (QMB) had been used on a trial basis between junctions 11 and 12 from 2008.

It was intended to manage the traffic as part of Kent Police’s operation to tackle disruption at the Channel ports and Eurotunnel.

However the barrier, which is leased for £627,849 each year, has only been used twice in the past four years - but the total leasing cost over that four year period has cost taxpayers more than £2.5million.

Now the agency has decided not to renew the lease, which expired at the start of the month.

Agency service manager Simon Duke said they thought the barrier would be used much more frequently than it had been.

“In reality, the QMB has been used on only two occasions,” he said. “Once during a routine Operation Stack incident and for a number of months when Operation Stack was used following the Channel Tunnel fire.

“Ahead of the renewal of the lease, we have considered all the options, and decided that it is in taxpayers’ best interests for the QMB to be removed.”

He added they would be working with the police and Kent County Council to find a long-term solution that would 'offer good value for taxpayers’ money’ in the future.

KCC has estimated the costs to the Highways Agency over the last five years have been at least £6.5m.

Work to remove the barrier will take place over the coming weeks.

One of the possible solutions being explored by KCC is the creation of a lorry park on a 70-acre site off the motorway at Aldington.

The park could cost as much as £25m to build but uncertainty over financing it has led to delays in progressing the idea.