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Updated: Government cancels M20 lorry park plan
[ November 15, 2017 // Chris ]The Government has dropped a controversial plan for a lorry ‘stacking’ area off the M20 near Dover, after companies affected by the scheme requested a judicial review, which was scheduled to be held on 6-7 December. Any future plans for such areas would be subject to a full environmental assessment, it added.
In a letter to Knights Solicitors, which has been acted for local company G Forge, whose property abuts the southern part of the site, the government’s legal department said: “Following considerable discussion and extensive consultation my client has decided to withdraw the decision announcement of 6 July 2016, relating to the proposed lorry area at Stanford West, which is the subject of these judicial review proceedings….Consideration of any future lorry areas will include a full Environmental Impact Assessment.”
The letter added that, “given the importance of this matter a number of government departments have been consulted regarding the withdrawal of the decision. This has necessarily taken some time, but I am pleased to report that there is now a settled position.”
Highways England and the Department for Transport had been accused of dragging their feet on a decision, with affected firms unable to ascertain what the situation was, according to Knights.
Earlier, in an interview with FBJ, partner Matthew Knight said that his client was not in opposed to the lorry park scheme, subject to the agreed terms and modifications being met and that “it would be a pity” if the plan did not in fact go ahead.