Operation Stack has now been implemented seven times in the last six weeks, with the M20 Northbound closed for 26 days. The situation is untenable. People living in the villages along the M20 tell me they feel marooned in their homes. At rush hour, particularly if there’s the slightest incident on any of the alternative roads, drivers are stuck in traffic jams for hours. Visiting Maidstone Hospital yesterday, I heard about midwives whose journeys to work are taking two or three hours instead of their usual twenty minutes. I have had letters from businesses unable to pay wages because customers have stopped coming. Leeds Castle is seeing a huge hit on its visitor numbers during its peak season. Funeral services say mourners are missing ceremonies. Pregnant women are worrying how they will get to the hospital in time when they go into labour. I could go on, but I suspect almost everyone reading this knows how bad the situation is.
These are just a handful of examples from the hundreds of letters, emails and phone calls I have received. If you have written to me – thank you – and please keep doing so. These letters and emails have provided me with tangible evidence to share with Highways England and Government Ministers, showing how desperately we need action. I’ve also been able to draw from the many ideas proposed to me during the discussions about how to solve Operation Stack.
Many people have been asking me what I have been doing. I have been pushing for action on three fronts. Firstly, for an immediate alternative to the current version of Operation Stack, to avoid turning the whole of the M20 across Mid Kent into a lorry park. Secondly, for a solution to the problems in Calais and Coquelles, where a combination of strikers occupying ferries and migrants are causing the disruption. Thirdly, for an alternative to Operation Stack in the future, given that even when this situation is resolved, there are sure to be other causes of delays as we’ve seen in the past. Working together with other Kent MPs, I have pressed the Home Secretary, the Secretary of State for Transport, Transport Ministers and Highways England, for action on these points.
Kent MPs have certainly succeeded in making the Government understand the devastating impact of Operation Stack on Kent, and the need for urgent action. Still, I’m being asked whether the Government is doing enough. We know the Home Secretary has had multiple meetings with officials in France pressing them to take effective action. The Government has committed £19m to improving security there and has supplied miles and miles of high security fencing. On home turf, the Secretary of State for Transport has made Highways England and the “European Strategic Gateway Delivery Group” speed up the work on “a package of measures” to mitigate Operation Stack. This was initially expected to report in September, but now we are expecting this report to be submitted to the Roads Minister today (Friday 31 July). Is that enough? From the point of view of Kent, no, because we’re still stuck with Operation Stack.
Earlier this week, I was bitterly disappointed when Highways England rejected the proposal of introducing a contraflow system on the M20. I realise the contraflow wouldn’t have been perfect, but it could have helped to ease pressure on local roads and I’m told it has been done on the M20 in the past. Highways England indicated that the main reason was road safety, and clearly if it is unacceptably dangerous then it cannot be pursued, but so far I have not received any detail on the reasoning behind the stated safety risk. I have written to Highways England asking for this, along with news on other alternatives like the M26. When it comes down to it, Highways England, as the responsible authority, must bring an alternative emergency solution to the table and it beggars belief that it is taking them so long.
Last weekend I also contacted the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to make sure he is fully aware of the effects Operation Stack is having on businesses. While everyone is aware of the impact of Stack on the haulage industry, I was concerned the impact on the many businesses in this area had been overlooked. The cost to the Kent economy has been estimated at £1.5m/day. I have called on the Secretary of State for Business to lend his weight to the pressure for an alternative to Stack, and to advise me what financial support or compensation might be available for local businesses.
Yesterday I visited Kent Police to find out how they are coping and what help them would value from me. They are bearing up, but now Operation Stack has been going on so long it’s taking its toll. The cost to Kent Police has been estimated at around £1m, and there’s the extra work not only running Operation Stack but also dealing with extra immigrants, some of whom have suffered terrible injuries along with several fatalities. With staff working extended shifts day after day, they are now having to call on neighbouring police forces for extra manpower. They value the backing of Kent MPs to make sure they get extra funding from the Government, along with the efforts we’re making to get a solution.
This morning I will be meeting the Transport Minister in Maidstone. I have four specific demands:
1. A new plan for lorry parking no later than Monday, which avoids keeps traffic flowing on the M20
2. British forces – border force, police or army – on the ground in France to provide security until we can see that the new fence and French security are able to do so
3. A requirement for other counties and London to help Kent – especially Social Services, who are dealing with hundreds of teenage migrants
4. Compensation for the cost to Kent, including costs to the Police (over £1m), Social Services (over £5m) and Businesses (£1.5m/day to Kent economy)
This is the 26th day of Operation Stack in the last 6 weeks: Enough is Enough.
