Kent County Council's ban on lorries parking in lay-bys should be lifted as it "contravenes the working rights of logisitics workers" according to a leading business organisation.

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Logistics UK, which represents logistics firms, has written to Rachel Maclean, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport (DfT) to "express its strong objections to the plan, which prevents lorry parking for more than 45 minutes at a time in lay-bys across several areas of Kent".

The rules were introduced in January amid concerns of problems on the county's roads as a result of delays at the port caused by Brexit.

Heidi Skinner, policy manager for the South at Logistics UK, said: “Lorry drivers were deemed 'essential' workers during the pandemic, but it seems that this has been forgotten in this latest directive.

"Logistics UK is urging the DfT to consider the welfare of these drivers – who work tirelessly to transport the goods and services the nation needs – and withdraw support for KCC’s order banning HGV parking in lay-bys across several of Kent’s boroughs and districts.

"Lorry drivers need access to parking spaces to rest – for both their welfare and to meet legally mandated rest periods from driving – but with a shortage of between 1,000 and 1,200 HGV parking spaces in Kent, it is unacceptable to prohibit the use of lay-bys for drivers without providing facilities elsewhere.

“The ban was a temporary measure principally to ensure that HGVs were not parking in lay-bys while awaiting the correct paperwork to enter the EU. Now, following the removal of the Kent Access Permit (KAP) – which was successful in deterring hauliers entering Kent without the correct paperwork – there is no reason to keep the ban in place.

"Following the removal of the KAP and taking into consideration the lack of lorry parking facilities in Kent, it is unacceptable for KCC and DfT to continue this traffic order.”

At present, the parking ban applies to roads in the boroughs of Ashford, Maidstone and Swale, and in the districts of Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe, and Thanet.

KCC has also applied to the government to extend it Tunbridge Wells.

A KCC spokesperson said: “The temporary ban was introduced in January to help keep Kent moving during EU transition and protect local communities from the growing problem of illegal and anti-social lorry parking.

“Hauliers play a significant role in keeping goods flowing and the nation’s supermarket shelves stocked and drivers taking their short statutory breaks using dedicated lay-bys or parking areas do not face enforcement.

“As we approach the end of the initial period of this project we are grateful for all the feedback received directly, and via our ongoing consultation. All responses will be fully considered before a decision about the longer term future of the lorry parking ban is reached. We’re also discussing with DfT the long-term issue of lorry parking in Kent.”

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