Operation Stack Solutions?

Operation Stack has been implemented 48 times between 1997 and January 2015 with an average duration of 5-6 days a year. However in first 7 months of 2015, Operation Stack was implemented for 32 days, 5 days in January and then almost continuously in late June and throughout July.

To build the Lorry Park, Highways England will use Section 115 of the Highways Act 1980 to avoid planning permission and Section 116 -123 to stop or divert footpaths, bridleways running across the land marked in red below.

Both sites chosen for the lorry park at/near J11at Stanford will have to have its own Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA]. In the last few years developments such as football stadiums, industrial buildings, a gas-fired power station, town centre regeneration proposals, farm buildings and several major housing projects have been scuppered because of bad EIA’s.

The Land to the south west of Stanford – site 1 is flat arable land and SDC will undertake a survey for a slip road as this site is prior to J11 The new access would need to be 2km away from M20 Junction 11 inline with Design Manual for Roads & Bridges. Site 1 is owned by David Thomas Holt according to the land registry.

Site two is next to J11 slip road as you head onto the motorway towards Folkestone. There are Serious Environmental constraints. The site is located within a SLA and the Kent Downs Area of Natural Beauty. The site includes areas of ancient woodlands and is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The site lies at the foot of the North Downs Way and abuts other ancient Trails. Site 2 is owned by Carolyn Hardy OBE according to the land registry.

Both sites at M20 Junction 11, Stanford were rejected by Kent County Council according to this document

 →          WYG Table A042767_1        ←

The Lorry Park will cater for a minimum of 3,600 lorries and the Govt have set aside 250 million for its development. So would cost in today’s money £69,444 per lorry space.

The plan is too take it to consultation and have listened to the locals by March 2016 and hopefully have a decision in the summer of 2016. But KCC is very concerned that the planning process being led by Highways England is suffering delays which jeopardises the quick delivery of a solution.

The consultation only asks for your views on the suitability of each proposed sites, and on how it should be operated.

You can express your view at the following places

The next event will be at the Civic Centre in Folkestone on Monday, January 4 and Tuesday, January 5. 2-8pm

Then in Ashford at The New Ashford Market on Orbital Park on Wednesday, January 6 2-8pm

Dover Town Hall on January 7 2 – 8pm.

Then at Sellindge Sports and Social Club again on Monday, January 11 2-8pm

Finally Hawkinge Community Centre Tuesday January 12. 2-8pm

The consultation will end on January 25 next year

Cllr David Drury Monk, leader of SDC has welcomed the plans and urged “all residents to take this opportunity to have their say.”

Shepwayvox