Logistics UK challenges Kent lorry parking ban

Freight transport association Logistics UK is calling for an end to a post-Brexit rule banning lorries from parking in laybys for more than 45 minutes across several areas of the key southeast England county of Kent.

According to Logistics UK, Kent County Council’s (KCC) “unacceptable” ban on lorry parking in laybys across several areas of Kent “contravenes the working rights of logistics workers” –and is unnecessary now that concerns about huge post-Brexit queues of lorries in the county have passed.

In a letter to Rachel Maclean MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Department for Transport (DfT), the business group has expressed its strong objections to the ban – which prevents lorry parking for more than 45 minutes at a time in laybys across several areas of Kent.

Heidi Skinner, Policy Manager for South at Logistics UK, commented: “Lorry drivers need access to parking spaces to rest – for both their welfare and to meet legally mandated rest periods from driving – but with a shortage of between 1,000 and 1,200 HGV parking spaces in Kent, it is unacceptable to prohibit the use of laybys for drivers without providing facilities elsewhere.

“The ban was a temporary measure principally to ensure that HGVs were not parking in laybys while awaiting the correct paperwork to enter the EU. Now, following the removal of the Kent Access Permit (KAP) – which was successful in deterring hauliers entering Kent without the correct paperwork – there is no reason to keep the ban in place. 

“Following the removal of the KAP and taking into consideration the lack of lorry parking facilities in Kent, it is unacceptable for KCC and DfT to continue this traffic order.”

Skinner highlighted that lorry drivers “were deemed ‘essential’ workers during the pandemic, but it seems that this has been forgotten in this latest directive”. She continued: “Logistics UK is urging the DfT to consider the welfare of these drivers – who work tirelessly to transport the goods and services the nation needs – and withdraw support for KCC’s order banning HGV parking in laybys across several of Kent’s boroughs and districts.”

Kent’s scheme

In KCC’s initial justification for the scheme in the lead-up to the UK’s departure from EU rules on 1 January, it argued that “even though we’ve worked hard on the traffic management plans with our partners, there may well be a certain amount of freight turned back from the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel, or from the Manston or Sevington sites, if border paperwork is not in order. If this is the case, Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) are expected to return to their base of operation, but some may just move onto the local road network and wait to become border ready.”

It added: “The Department for Transport has given us permission to introduce a new restriction, where HGVs are not allowed to park (or wait) at any time in certain areas in Kent. The restriction applies to vehicles weighing 5 tonnes or more. It does not affect loading or unloading of HGVs; however, any existing on-street parking restrictions that are signed locally will remain in effect, and can be enforced separately to this HGV parking ban.”

Affected areas

The restrictions apply to all streets in the districts and boroughs of: Ashford; Canterbury; Dover; Folkestone and Hythe; Maidstone; Swale; Thanet and apply 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But KCC said certain lay-bys located along the following routes are exempt from this restriction: A249 between M20 Junction 7 and M2 Junction 5; A299 between M2 Junction 7 and junction with A256; A256 between junction with A299 and junction with A2.

Additionally, drivers of HGVs are permitted to stop for their short break – 45 minutes – as defined by EU Drivers’ hours regulations, and can continue to load or unload in the normal manner, except where existing parking restrictions apply.

HGV parking areas

KCC said dedicated parking for HGVs was available at: Maidstone services – M20 Junction 8; Medway services – M2, located between Junctions 4 and 5; STOP 24 services – Channel Ports Truck Stop – M20 Junction 11; Ashford International Truck Stop; and Dover Truck Park.