downsmail.co.uk


Op Stack solution elusive with Brexit on the horizon


DEPARTMENT for Transport bosses have admitted that finding a permanent solution toOperation Stack is proving harder than first anticipated, Downs Mail can re- veal. With less than a year to go before


theUK leaves the EuropeanUnion, anxieties are growing that therewill be regular standstills on theM20 if a deal is not struck byMarch 2019. According to a source close to the


DfT, Highways England (HE), the agency taskedto finda solution pre- Brexit, is exploring all permanent possibilities, including a lorry park and even a continuation of Opera- tion Stack. We understand that, as temporary


measures,HE plans to use the hard shoulder of theM20, bring theM26 into commission or create a freight holding area nearWhitfield,Dover. Last year, the then Port of Dover


chief executive Tim Waggott warned of 17-mile queues either side of the Channel if the two- minute average freight processing time per vehicle is increased after


Brexit. About 10,000 freight move- ments pass through the Port of Dover each day.Observers arewor- ried that queues of lorries will stretch back to Maidstone, causing misery to residents and businesses on the alternativeA20 route. Villages such as Hollingbourne,


Leeds, Bearsted and Harrietsham might also suffer severe congestion. No avenues to permanently solve


the absence of a lorry park have proved successful, a source close to theDfT told us. The source added: “The clock is


ticking and it seems that the solu- tion toOperation Stack ismoreOp- eration Stack. “Stack has been in place for three


decades and no solutionwas found. What are the chances it is going to happen in 12months?” But DownsMail has learned that


in anticipation of issues, Highways England will start to reinforce the hard shoulder between junctions eight (LeedsCastle/Maidstone) and junction nine (Ashford). The work is due to be finished byOctober. This temporary measure would


create the capacity for 3,000 lorries. If traffic is likely to back up be-


yond the capacity of the M20, the DfT has indicated itwould consider using theM26 (which links theM20 and theM25). A holding area could be estab-


lished at theWhitfield roundabout on the A2, which is the other route into the Port ofDover. The Department for Transport


spokesman said: “The department will be consulting on a permanent solution in due course.”


News Drama group


needs leaders LEEDSAmateurDramatic So- ciety is at a crossroads. Manymembers are expected


to stand down at the next com- mittee meeting so new mem- bers and volunteers are needed to lead the group. The committee meets for


about an hour every two months in The George Inn, Lower Street, Leeds, to discuss future productions. Anyone who would like to join them can go to Leeds village hall at 7.30pmon Tuesday,May 15. Secretary Lesley Finlay said:


“Committeemembers play an active part in planning pro- ductions, depending on how much time they have to offer. The group performed a suc- cessful Twelfth Night review in January and is rehearsing the Plays and Picnics event at The Old Vicarage, Lower Street on Friday, June 22, and Saturday, June 23.” To keep up to date with the


group, follow them on Face- book at @LADSamdram


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Maidstone East May 2018 29


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