News feature


IN THE gossipy world of cross-Channel transport, it sometimes pays to be sceptical about the motive behind the message, but disturbing possibilities are emerging about the M20 corridor post-Brexit. SIMON FINLAY reports...


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downsmail.co.uk


downsmail.co.uk Barming Brexit: chaos looms forM20


THE chief executive of the Port of Dover, bunged up with a heavy cold, is not in any mood to mince his words. Speaking at his offices overlook-


ing the Western Docks, Tim Wag- gott says research shows the M20 faces severe tailbacks if a solution to freight movements across the Channel is not found before Brexit becomes a reality in 2019. MrWaggott is clearly concerned


that the prospect of Operation Stack in place on an almost perma- nent footing rests on whether a transitional border and customs arrangement can be found before departure fromthe EU. Analysts commissioned by the


port have found that if each truck’s two-minute average processing time doubles to dealwith extra pa- perwork and checks, the conse- quences could bring unimaginable difficulties. MrWaggott tellsDownsMail: “It


could lead to 17-mile queues on each side of the Channel. That’s whatwe’ve found. “The secret will be how we keep


the trafficmoving.Howcanwe de- liverwhat ourChancellor called the most ‘free and frictionless’ tradewe possibly can?” The Freight Transport Associa-


tion, a respected trade lobby group, paints an even gloomier picture. If four minutes clearance time takes queues toAshford, sixwouldmean Maidstone. Eight would see freight backed up into Essex.


Transport secretary Chris Grayling has floated the possibility of theManstonAirport site as a clearing house...“Absolutely bonkers idea,” is one reaction.


36 Maidstone December 2017 Port of Dover boss TimWaggott It could spellmajor trouble ahead


for rural communities around Maidstone’s A20 route such as Lenham, Leeds, Harrietsham, Hollingbourne and Bearsted. Those communities – already suf-


fering large and growing volumes of vehicles daily – would soon be swamped by unwanted trafficwith no alternative routes. Hollingbourne parish councillor


John Cobbett has publicly voiced concerns for many months about the future and urges Kent County Council to come upwith a “contin- gency or the county could grind to a standstill”. Mr Waggott adds: “We have to


find a solution tomaintain the tran- sition times at the present level of two minutes. How do we avoid it being fourminutes ormore – that’s the question.” This will


inevitably involve


“working with our European friends” to achieve the best out- come, he says. Moving a speedy technology-


based clearance system away from the border – i.e. not the space-con- strained Port of Dover with white cliffs on one side and sea on the other – will cause even more prob- lems. Transport


secretary Chris


Grayling has floated the possibility of the Manston Airport site as a clearing house.


Port observers scoff at the idea of


redirecting huge volumes of freight to Thanet only to trundle thewhole way toDover on single-track, coun- try roads. “Absolutely bonkers idea,” is one


reaction. But, presently, the only site seri-


ously on the radar is land set aside for a £250m lorry park on the M20 outside Folkestone, which is now the subject of a judicial review and it is doubtful if it could be running by Brexit’s 2019 deadline. Besideswhich, it ismeant to be a


freight holding area when cross- Channel operations are suspended or perhaps used as overnight park- ing to stop foreign lorries illegally using the county’s roadsides for free – not a 24-hour, non-stop cus- toms clearance facility. The feeling in political circles is


that once it is built, its primary pur- pose may be allowed to become more opaque. However, any devi- ation from the original proposal could be open to further challenge and delays. The spectre of the impending


chaos onKent’s roads appears to be heightening local political anxieties. Eleven MPs – including Helen


Grant,HelenWhately and TomTu- gendhat – havewritten a joint letter to Mr Grayling to complain progress is too slow on an M20 lorry park. One insider told Downs Mail:


“They have to be seen to be saying something because they know there is, potentially, trouble up ahead. The lorry park isn’t the issue anymore, it’s Brexit.” But Charlie Elphicke, Dover’s


MP, remains resolutely clamped to the same message: “Deal or no deal, we will make an immense success of Brexit.” However, Mr Elphicke recog-


nises that the M20 lorry park re- mains the best – possibly the only – option left to Kent’s MPs to cling onto, despite its apparent unsuit- ability. After all, in three decades of Op-


eration Stack, the best brains in Westminster and Whitehall have neither found the will nor the way


In three decades of Operation Stack, the best brains in Westminster and Whitehall have neither found thewill nor the way to solve this politically toxic issue.


Brexit has changed everything.


to solve this politically toxic issue. Brexit has changed everything. Mr Elphicke is now in no mood


for shilly-shallying in London. “The Treasury and the Depart-


ment for Transport should stop dithering and get on with it,” he tells DownsMail. To prove the point, the former tax


lawyer chaired a meeting of MPs andhaulage representatives atWest- minster onOctober 17,where former Border Force director general Tony SmithCBE,Eurotunnelpublic affairs director John Keefe, Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett and shipping trackers Kuehne&Nagel’s international for- warding director Mark Johnson were on the expert panel. Mr Burnett complained access to


governmental help and advice has been limited while a more circum- spect Mr Keefe warned that “in- creased (freight) volumes are coming regardless” and that Brexit could be “a lever to help get some of the technologywe need tomove things forward tomake sure traffic flows smoothly as traffic grows.” Mr Johnson, however, sent the


message toWhitehall: “Tell us what we’ve got to do andwe’ll get ready.” But, more starkly, asked if he


thought the roads toDover, such as the M20 and A2, would be able to cope in the event of a late failure in Brexit negotiations, Mr Johnson said: “Absolutely not.”


Policing changesMembers agreed they were happy for PCSOs to be on patrol rather than a�ending parishmeetings. Hiring spaces Cllr Gooch had updated the documents for both the parish hall and pavilion. Prior authorisationmust be sought if additional electrical appliances are to be used. Barge boards Four companies had been approached but only two had quoted. It was agreed to acceptMr P Clarke’s quote. Road crossing KCC have indicated that the crossing on Tonbridge Road could be upgraded to a signalled one. The council welcomed news itwas being looked into. Telephone box The Community Heartbeat Trust advised they had requested BT to remove the phone box in North Street. Toilet worksA quote of £674was accepted for the supply and replacement of the toilets at the pavilion, due to a faulty cistern.A gap between the newunits and the existing flooringwould bemade good at extra cost. Benches The parish council had decided to replace some of the bencheswith plastic ones, but Nigel Gibson’s revised quote for the restainingworkwas accepted. Football club Barming Youth Football Club had held their annualmeeting, a�ended by Cllr Gooch. The club are keen to install a second half-size container in the corner of the car park.As BYFC’s fee includes an element of free usage not afforded to other groups, CllrManser felt that in the absence of a clear policy and in the interests of consistency, this should be reassessed. Cllr Gooch agreed to contact the club chairman about their amount of usage of the facility for further discussion. Fun football Cllr Gooch had been approached by RevWill North about se�ing up a ‘football for fun’ group for tots. As theywould not be using the pavilion, theywerewelcome to use the public space. PavilionmaintenanceWeeding and tidying, cleaning, a damaged slate, condensation and painting all required


TWO gold signet ringswere stolenwhen a house in Howard Drive, Allington,was broken into. Dieselwas syphoned fromtwo dumper


trucks and a vehicle ba�erywas stolen following a break-in at a building site on North Street, Barming. The front tyre on a Land Rover


Discovery parked on a drive in The Green, BoughtonMonchelsea,was cut. A breakermachine and awhacker


platewere stolen froma residential property in Bower Streetwhichwas undergoing buildingwork. Several treeswere set alight in garden


in BucklandHill. Wheelie bins close to a buildingwere


set on fire in St Peter’s Street. Awindowof a property in Peacock


Mewswas smashed. A vehicle parked in Victoria Streetwas


stolen. A parkingmeter in a car park in


Brewer Streetwas damaged and cash stolen. A Toyota Yaris had awindowsmashed


while parked in BucklandHill. Garden tools and power toolswere


stolenwhen a shed in a garden in Grecian Streetwas broken into.


a�ention. Councillors had people lined up to look atmost of thiswork. Tree checks The oak trees by Cedar Drive would need to be assessed once the leaves had fallen. Roadside trees at the Parish Field car parkmay need cu�ing back. Bell FarmPrevious suggestions for street names on the Bell Farmdevelopment had been submi�ed but due to the excessive use of the name Heath and Orchards aswell as existing roads sounding similar,members were asked to resubmit names for the four streets. They suggested Oaken Reach, Hop Garden Close, Bermelie Grove and Street and Carpenters Close. Resignation The resignation of Cllr Catherine Jameswas formally noted. Purple4PolioMemberswere in favour of crocus being planted at the bo�omof Cedar Drive. The purple crocus is a symbol of the Rotary’s campaign to eradicate polio. Parishwebsite The clerk showedmembers the format for the free Hugo Foxwebsite. The opinion of Laura Dyer at KALC of this providerwould be sought, and if positive, thiswould be changed over. Borough council Itwas reported that there was to be a consultation on the name change of theward fromBarming to Barming and Teston. Cllrs Gooch and Mansermetwith the public rights ofway officer at the towpath to discuss outstanding issues. The officer agreed to contact the angling club regarding cars parked on the towpath and the possibility of posts being installed. The information boardswere to bemoved to the other side of the path and the stolen bench replaced. Other reports CllrWilson had been approached about the possibility of a bin being installed at themobile home park; CllrWillson also asked if therewere details on the change of hours of the Bull Inn;mess on the pavements following recent gas works; vans parking overnight in the Barnjet lay-by – possibly to be slept in. Joint Parishes Itwas agreed that Cllr Manser should join the joint parishes group following concerns over housing, air quality and traffic.


Loose


Rogue trader The communitywarden reported that a rogue traders had been in the village. Kent Police are investigating Cold callerA neighbouring village has had a cold caller offering to do paintingwork. Residents are advised not to employ them and obtain two or threewri�en quotations for anywork. Borough Council Cllr Sue Grigg updated on the latest news fromMaidstone Borough Council. Updateswere provided on the Forstal Lane development, the ocal plan, The Slade and noise at Rockin Robin and the Chequers Water work The council agreed to chase SouthernWater for a summary ofworks over the past five years as requested. Parking KCCwould be contacted following residents’ emails about parking. Highways Group The North Loose ResidentsAssociationwant to set up a SouthMaidstone Highways Group to tackle issues in the area. The council agreed to explore the proposals. Logo design The decisionwas taken to keep the current logo. Defibrillator Eric Hotson had agreed to use the fund for a defibrillator.As the £1,250 budgetwould not cover all expenses,itwas agreed to defer purchase, speak to BoughtonMonchelsea about the costs and write to Paulina Stockell to see if the funds can be raised elsewhere. Website The council agreed to include fete details, the filling of the planter and li�er picking dates on thewebsite. Loose Views The publication of the next issuewas discussed.A quote had been received fromAntrix for preparation, printing and delivery , but twomore quotes were requested before a final decision. Socialmedia The clerkwas to a�end a socialmedia course to see if thiswould be of benefit to the council. Documentation One of the options put forward for the design of the council's documentationwould be used on business cards before a final decisionwasmade.


NeighbourhoodWatch


Working to reduce crime. Call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or local police Power tools including nail guns and


drillswere taken froma Citroen van parked in Stadler Close, Allington. Awheelwas stolen froma Ford Ka


parked in Cooling Close. A Ford Focus convertible parked in


Recreation Closewas keyed and had its tyres deflated. A black 55 plate Piaggio Vespamotor


scooterwas stolen froma driveway in Holland Road. Awingmirrorwas ripped off a Nissan


Micra parked inWheeler Street. On the same evening, a Ford Fiesta parked in the same street had itswingmirrors broken off and smashed on the ground. A shed at a residential property in


Heath Road, BoughtonMonchelsea,was broken into.A hedge trimmer, chainsaw and drillwere stolen. On the same evening, a chainsawwas stolen from another shed on the same road. A Ford Focus parked in Recreation Closewas keyed.


Maidstone December 2017 37 A garage at a residential property in


CliffordWaywas broken into, and a black and green B-Twin Decathlon mountain bike stolen. A hedge trimmer, two lawnmowers, a


chainsaw, a leaf blower, a strimmer, a drill and other toolswere stolen froma shed in Cliff Hill, BoughtonMonchelsea. A Peugeot 206was keyedwhile parked


in the car park at KingfisherMeadow. A Renault Twingowas stolen from


Farleigh Lane. Two silver birch treeswere cut down in a garden of a house of Hadlow Close.


Parish Councils


Crime reports


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