Labour has raised concerns over the Government’s resilience plans for Operation Stack in Kent, following last year’s chaos around the port of Dover.
Operation Stack, which sees lorries kept waiting on the M20 while there is disruption at the port, was used 32 times last summer following strikes by French ferry workers and the closure of the Channel Tunnel due to migrants.
Operation Stack in action
Shadow transport minister Richard Burden has raised concerns that the Government isn’t doing enough to prevent similar disruption happening again this year, when France will host the Euro 2016 over June and July.
Although chancellor George Osborne has allocated £250m to pay for a new lorry park in the area to help tackle the issue in future, this will not be in place in time to ease fears for this summer.
Having raised the question with transport minister Andrew Jones in Parliament, Mr Burden said he found the Government’s response ‘very troubling’.
Mr Jones had responded: ‘Operation Stack is a critical part of controlling access into the port and trying to make the port flow more smoothly. We had exceptional circumstances last year both with strikes and challenges with migrants closing the tunnel.
‘Operation Stack proposals are effectively to create an off the highway holding area. It’s a significant investment, a £250m project. I have met with Highways England and with local providers of highways, [and we have been] working on what we could do in the short-term and will keep local members informed of that progress.’
Mr Burden said: ‘Holidaymakers, truck drivers and people who live in Kent don’t want to know about the minister’s diary. I was in Kent talking to businesses who felt first-hand the traffic chaos surrounding 32 days of Operation Stack last year.
'Existing lorry parks are already having to turn lorries away, and all forms of traffic through the South East will only grow as the weather gets warmer. The fact France is hosting the Euro 2016 over June and July will generate more traffic.’
He continued: ‘This is not just a matter for local authorities, Police and others in Kent. Keeping the roads clear through Kent is an issue of national importance and the Government’s preparations should reflect that.’
