News

Kent Police is stepping up patrols on an industrial estate near Ashford after residents complained that trucks were parking there illegally due to a lack of official spaces. The ongoing problems concerning a shortage of truckstops in the county mean many foreign drivers are using the Orbital Business Park and escaping fines because they are too difficult to trace.

Ashford International Truck Stop general manager Richard Welch confirms it is turning  away drivers almost every night by 9.30pm because its 300 spaces are all taken. He adds: "At one stage we used to close the park at 10pm-11pm. Now it's 8.00pm-9.30pm. We are completely full up. We never tell drivers to go anywhere other than official motorway parking services."

Now Kent police says it will increase its surveillance of the business park. A police spokeswoman says: "The problem is that when the truckstop is full, or some lorry drivers can't afford to go to Ashford truck stop, they will park on the Orbital Business Park. There are no facilities for lorry drivers and we've had complaints from nearby residents and problems with litter. We are stepping up patrols.

"It's something we are taking considerable time to remedy and [we are] listening to all parties concerned."