We win battle to release details of proposed lorry park sites
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Exclusive
report by political editor Paul Francis
Kent County Council has been told it must reveal details of all
the locations it has considered as possible lorry park sites to
deal with Operation Stack.
The KM Group has won an 18-month long battle to force the
authority to disclose details of the other sites and how much each
option might cost.
An information watchdog has ruled that the council was wrong to
withhold the information and has ordered it must be disclosed
because of the "considerable environmental impact" and the affect
on people living in the area.
KentOnline had sought details of other sites under the Freedom
of Act and Environmental Information Regulations.
But KCC said it was not in the public interest to release
details of alternative sites, maintaining it was commercially
sensitive and disclosure could affect land values.
It also argued the release would create anxiety and uncertainty
among those living near the other locations.
In a ruling that comprehensively overturns KCC's case and
upholds our appeal, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
says a list of alternative sites must now be released in the public
interest.
The ruling will also mean that information about the possible
planning constraints around the M20 site, originally redacted from
documents already provided to the KM Group, will be released.
Forced into the open: read Paul's blog
on this story>>>
Anne Jones, assistant commissioner for the ICO, said that "there
is a strong public interest in disclosing information which would
inform public participation and debate around an issue of which
there is clearly considerable public concern and anxiety."
She added: "There is a clear need to look at all the options for
alternative ways of managing this situation and further disclosure
of information which identifies all of the options being
considered would aid the council and public in assessing the
options fully."
The ruling also rejected KCC's case that it needed "private
thinking space" to be able to consider possible solutions to the
problems of Operation Stack.
The commissioner said that argument was not valid because KCC
had already identified where it wanted to build the site.
"Although the overall decision as to whether to proceed...has
not yet been made, the decision or preferred option of where to
site one, has."
The ruling has been welcomed by residents and campaigners
opposed to the lorry park plan for some 3,000 vehicles but is a
setback for the council.
As recently as December, KCC leader Paul Carter told Folkestone
and Hythe MP Michael Howard he would not publish the details of the
other locations.
KCC has until next week to release the information. It was asked
to comment but has yet to respond.
Thursday, January 14 2010
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