REAL ACTION: Truck Off Campaign gets real reduction on Lorry Parking for Cheriton

Tim Prater has thanked Cheriton residents for their support of the "Truck Off" campaign to reduce lorry parking on Cheriton High Street opposite Tesco's. The campaign has been running for 2 weeks, and already there has been a significant reduction in lorry parking in the layby.

For many years, there has been a significant problem on Cheriton High Street with lorry parking. Many lorries on their way to or from the continent stop in the slip road off Cheriton High Street (opposite Tescos, right by junction 12 of the M20) to take their required break.

They are parking near homes with generators or refrigeration units running overnight, disturbing residents in the neighbouring houses. Often, due to the lack of local facilities, there is also litter left, and much damage has been caused to verges in the slip road where lorries have mounted the kerb.

The Truck Off campaign has encouraged local residents have been asked to park in that layby from noon on Saturday 25th February. There are now more cars parking there, and in combination with signs put up asking lorries not to park, there has been a significant reduction in lorry parking - due to the action of local people.

Local Lib Dem campaigners have now written to the council asking for them to help the campaign with some specific help. Now the number of lorries has been reduced and the campaign shown to be working, we have asked for "official" signs to replace the current home-made signs, the verges and kerbs to be reinstated and bollards put in place to protect the verge.

Tim Prater said:

"This is a real victory for local people power. Cheriton residents were sick of waiting for a long promised but still undelivered scheme to deal with the problem from Kent County Council. While they wait for the Council to finally deliver on their promises, the Truck Off campaign is actually achieving a real reduction in lorry parking - now.

"This campaign however is NOT anti-lorry: Cheriton residents have no problem with lorry drivers, and understand how hard their job must be, and how important they are to our country. Residents support lorry drivers right to good facilities, and a proper place to park, stop, eat and sleep. However Cheriton High Street is not the right place - there are no facilities, and it is too close to houses."

The Truck Off campaign are backing better facilities for drivers in the right locations. This week campaign co-ordinator Tim Prater has written to new Lib Dem Transport Spokesman Alistair Carmichael to welcome him to his new position and to raise lorry parking shortages with him.

The campaign has also been shocked to learn that the plans new Junction 11 M20 service station has lorry parking provision for just 20 lorries, and plan to lobby both the developer and council to see if a solution can be found to include more parking spaces for lorries.

Related Links

• The Truck Off campaign web site