On Wednesday 1st July, Helen visited Kent Police Headquarters in Maidstone, where Kent Police are coordinating Operation Stack. Operation Stack is the system in place to deal with the massive build-up of lorries in Kent caused by strikes in Calais, and involves turning large sections of the M20 into a lorry park.
Helen met Chief Superintendent Neil Jerome to discuss the current situation on the M20 and surrounding roads. Their conversation focused on how the situation can be best managed in the next few days and what help and support the police need to do so. They also discussed what could be done in the future both to keep lorries moving and reduce the disruption caused to other road users and the consequent impact on residents and businesses in Faversham and Mid Kent. Chief Supt. Jerome highlighted the scale of the challenge facing the police, with 4,500 lorries travelling into Kent every day, the vast majority on their way to cross The Channel. They also discussed the significant cost to Kent Police and the diversion of police resources.
Helen then visited the Operation Stack control room where she spoke to the officer in operational control, Superintendent Julia Chapman. Here Helen was able to see the police’s efforts on the ground to ensure that lorry drivers are queuing on the motorway as part of Operation Stack rather than using alternate routes which cause further delays for other road users.
Helen said:
“Considering the scale of the challenge, Kent Police’s management of the situation has been very impressive. But despite their best efforts, Operation Stack is still causing huge disruption to the people and businesses of Kent. With strikes expected to continue throughout the summer it is clear that a better solution needs to be found sooner rather than later.
“In the short term this needs to involve better communications to lorry drivers and haulage companies, so that drivers are fully aware of the scale of delays and can potentially postpone their journeys. Clearly the ongoing work of the Police and other public services is vital in managing the situation and providing basic supplies to lorry drivers who are stuck in their lorries in such exceptionally hot weather.
"Pressure must also be placed on the French government to ensure as many routes as possible are kept running. This is exactly what the Prime Minister and others are doing: David Cameron spoke to Francois Hollande today, and similarly the Secretaries of State for Transport and the Home Office also spoke to their French counterparts. They are urging the French Government to get the Port fully open as soon as possible.
“In the longer term, proposals to build one or more new lorry parks, which would increase capacity and allow the motorway to stay open, need to be seriously considered. A report soon to be published by Kent County Council in conjunction with the police and Highways England is a vital opportunity for Kent to set out what it wants, and then all of Kent's MPs must be ready to campaign for a solution.”
PHOTO: Helen with Kent Police Chief Superintendent Neil Jerome in the Control Room, discussing Operation Stack
