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Following months of disagreements and stalling, the five agencies charged with overhauling Suffolk's emergency lorry parking procedure Operation Stack have agreed to a new system to start in March. The plan to deal with hundreds of LGVs stranded on the A14 when Felixstowe port closes during 'wind-offs' collapsed late last year when Suffolk County Council refused to sanction the Highways Agency's (HA) proposals. The local authority's concerns centred around the lack of facilities for drivers at  the planned new parking site on the A45 at Levington, ten miles outside the port.

But Suffolk Police, the HA, Felixstowe port and local authorities say they have now reached an agreement. According to group chair and county councillor Guy McGregor, the port has given a commitment to a controlled ticketing system for all parked-up drivers wanting to enter the port. The HA will use CCTV to monitor the A14/A12 junction and the police have agreed to monitor the release of hauliers from the A45. "It's important to stress this is a temporary solution from day one," he says. "In the meantime we are looking for a permanent solution to this."