.
But if opposition is to be effective it must take account of all the relevant factors, including the reasons why the proposal is being made in the first place.
Operation Stack has caused widespread misery over a very wide area. It causes immense personal and economic dislocation and for many years people have been urging the relevant authorities to do something about it.
Various ideas have been put forward. Some, I fear, are not very practical. We would all, for example, like more freight to be moved by rail rather than road. I hope that it will prove possible to encourage a move in that direction.
But we are never going to remove all, or even most, lorry traffic from the M20. Indeed all the signs say it will grow.
So what practical proposals are there?
Later this year we hope to see movable barriers installed on the M20. I hope they will ease the worst aspects of Operation Stack. If they are very successful there will be no need for a lorry park.
But it makes sense to plan for the possibility that something else will be needed.
I have made it clear that a number of questions need to be answered.
If a lorry park is the answer, the first question that prompts is what is the best location? What other sites have been considered? What are their advantages and disadvantages?
What would be the consequences of a lorry park in the location proposed by Kent County Council? What impact would it have on the residents of Sellinge, Aldington and other nearby places? What access arrangements are proposed? Will it put an end to the nuisance caused by parked lorries on our roads? Will the police have the resources to enforce any restrictions that it may then be possible to enforce? Will it be big enough? Who will pay for it?
I intend to concentrate on getting answers to these questions. When we have them we will be in a much better position to make an informed response to what may well turn out to be an ill-considered proposal. |
