Last weekend’s lengthy delays suffered by motorists on the M20 approaching Dover could be better managed in future by allowing private vehicles to use a planned lorry park and by improving communications with road users, motoring and freight groups have said.

 

Some drivers were delayed by more than 14 hours on the approach to the Kent port because of additional French security checks. Now the AA and Freight Transport Association have said the new Stanford lorry park to be built to relieve heavy goods congestion from ‘Operation Stack’ should be opened to car users in emergencies as well.

 

“Welfare of individuals needs to be a higher priority,” said AA president Edmund King. “There should be a review (into last weekend’s delays) and a look at whether we need to use an area like that proposed for Operation Stack, so people can access food and toilets rather than being stuck in 30 degree heat.”

 

He added that Highways England should explore ways to allow people who do not want to continue queuing to leave the motorway safely by, for instance, opening up the central reservation, stopping traffic on the opposite carriageway and allowing stranded drivers to go back the other way.

 

“We need to be better prepared to react to situations like this,” Edmund King added. “Imagine the outcry if a train was stuck for that long.”

 

The Freight Transport Association’s head of policy for South East England Natalie Chapman said: “Now is a good time to look at all possible scenarios and offers an opportunity to consider the feasibility of the new lorry site being made available for tourist traffic if we had a similar situation in the future.

 

“The site at Stanford will accommodate up to 3600 lorries but could hold many more cars,” she added.

 

The RAC Foundation’s director Steve Gooding said allowing motorists to cross the central reserve to head back the other way would not have helped many people. “With most of the people in the queue expecting to cross the Channel, making it possible for traffic to turn back or turn off wouldn’t really do the trick.”

 

He added that taking traffic off into an area being prepared to hold lorries when Operation Stack is extended might help. “But sending car loads of families with small children off into a vast truck stop with limited facilities doesn’t really appeal.”

 

Steve Gooding also called for Highways England to better communicate real-time information about what is happening and how long delays are expected to last during major hold ups.

 

Highways England said in a statement: “We sympathise with those caught up in the traffic and would like to reassure everyone that we have worked around the clock with our partners to minimise the delays as far as possible.

 

“Further delays can be expected over the next few weeks and we urge people to plan their journeys and check road conditions before setting out.”

 

A spokesman added that Highways England worked hard with the Port of Dover, Kent Police and Kent County Council around the clock to co-ordinate a multi-agency response, which included providing food and drink to drivers and passengers.

 

The spokesman added that electronic message signs were used to warn drivers of the delays all the way from the Midlands, it tweeted regularly and issued updates to local and national media and website channels.

 

“Extra patrols were on duty over the weekend to help manage the traffic and the welfare efforts,” the spokesman added. “We will continue to review our response to identify ways of improving our response to situations such as this.”

 

When asked about the use of the proposed lorry park for private vehicles, Highways England replied: “A consultation on the proposed lorry park will open shortly. We encourage as many people to take part in this consultation as possible and will consider all responses and suggestions.”

 

(Photo: Port of Dover)