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1,569 lorries have been clamed since the UK left the EU

Hundreds of lorries have been clamped by Kent County Council (KCC) since the UK left the European Union (EU) on January 1, it has been revealed.

A total of 1,569 drivers of heavy goods vehicles, which weigh over five tonnes, have received fines for long-stay parking in large parts of Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe, Maidstone, Swale and Thanet.

Hundreds of lorries have been clamped this year
Hundreds of lorries have been clamped this year

The majority of cases have been along the M20 corridor from Maidstone towards Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover and 83% were international registered vehicles, including Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia, Romania and Spain.

Around two-thirds of the £185 fines issued occurred from 10pm to 6am, with some drivers likely parking up overnight in lay-bys and sleeping in their cabs.

KCC's transport committee chair, Cllr Sean Holden (Con), said inconsiderate parking of HGVs has become a "growing problem" in the county at a virtual meeting yesterday.

Speaking to an online panel of 16 councillors, the Cranbrook member said: "It has a devastating effect on the quality of life for some people and causes harm to the environment and to our road system."

He later added: "We do not want to take action against the freight business, but we do need to address the problems that are arising out of it."

"This country has been seen as a total soft touch compared to others like Belgium and France and that is not in the interest of our residents..."

KCC was granted special powers by the Department for Transport (DfT) on New Year's Day to reduce congestion on Kent's roads, protect residents from HGVs parking in "unsuitable" locations and to avoid noise, pollution and litter.

It comes as cross-channel traffic has started to return to normal 2020 levels.

Around 25 vehicles are being clamped a day across the seven districts by the KCC enforcement team, who are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

During the first six weeks of the scheme, 70 appeals have been made to KCC against £185 penalty charge notices (PCN) issued to each driver deemed to be breaking the rules, which includes a £150 clamp release fee and a £35 fine.

Reoffending rates from the tough enforcement have been less than 1% over the last two months as the Brexit scheme is due to last until the end of June.

Councillor Sean Holden
Councillor Sean Holden

Swale county Cllr Andrew Bowles (Con), a KCC transport committee member, said: "This has been a major problem for some considerable time and the fact we are getting fewer reoffenders shows there are alternatives.

"This country has been seen as a total soft touch compared to others like Belgium and France and that is not in the interest of our residents."

Hundreds of road signs have been deployed to define the parking restriction zones.

There are some exceptions where HGVs can continue to park, including the A249, A299 and A256. Meanwhile, short legal breaks of 45 minutes are still allowed.

At yesterday's meeting, it was agreed that KCC cabinet member for highways, Cllr Michael Payne (Con), would approach the DfT to widen the enforcement powers to include the remaining five districts, excluding Medway. This includes Dartford, Gravesham, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells.

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