The Operation Stack restrictions were finally lifted from our roads at the weekend but the work on a long term solution to this problem continues. Last week, along with Kent MPs Charlie Elphicke, Damian Green and Tracey Crouch, I met with the Roads Minister John Hayes to press him to lead an urgent government review of Operation Stack to see what additional support could be given. This could include extra resources to support the Kent Police and funding for more off road lorry parking to help keep the motorway open and the traffic moving. The government currently receives funds from the new charging scheme for foreign lorries to use our road network, which became operational last year, and I believe that some of this money could be used to help pay for Operation Stack. The strategic roads network through Kent to the Port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel is also national infrastructure, and should get support from government, including from the Highways Agency.
Four years ago I brought together a special summit including the government, local councils, the police, the Channel Tunnel and the Port of Dover, to discuss how we could work better together to reduce the need for and the impact of Operation Stack. As a result of these meetings we have seen far fewer occasions when the Stack measures have been brought into force over the last few years. This is due to better co-ordination between the different authorities involved, and more investment in off road lorry parking. When there is a major incident at the Channel Tunnel, as we have just had, or at the Port of Dover, it creates an urgent need for off road lorry parking. More space for this has already been created at the Port and at the Stop 24 services at Junction 11 of the M20. Construction work is also underway for the creation of hundreds of additional lorry parking spaces at the Channel Tunnel entrance. The Government has given funding through the Highways Agency for the construction of a new Junction 10a for the M20, and this would be the perfect place to build in more lorry parking space as well. In the past there has been discussion about creating one single lorry park to try to cope with the entire demands of operation stack, but it would be much more effective to have a series of smaller parks like these, strategically placed along the motorway network.
Last Friday I met with Sharon Silvey, and her son Billy, and others who have been involved in setting up a new volunteer based campaign to support homeless people in Folkestone. This has been a fantastic effort, supported by large numbers of people in the community and quickly raising over £2,000. Excellent work to support the homeless is also delivered in Folkestone through the Winter Shelter, and by organisations like the Rainbow Centre, the Salvation Army and Porchlight. Later this week I will be meeting with different organisations who work with homeless people in our community to see if there is more we can do to co-ordinate and support the services available and the work of local volunteers.
For more on this see:
http://www.folkestoneherald.co.uk/Shepway-MP-praises-help-homeless-campaign/story-25923417-detail/story.html
http://www.folkestoneherald.co.uk/Gig-raise-money-Folkestone-s-homeless/story-25928369-detail/story.html
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1569100673330647/?fref=ts
