Starting on the 1 September 2022, Ashford Borough Council enhanced its parking enforcement work to tackle the ongoing issue of HGVs parking overnight illegally in certain areas of the borough.
On a trial basis, the council’s contractor will, as well as clamping the HGVs, be able to issue the enforcement notices for illegally parking. The contractor will no longer require a Civil Enforcement Officer to be present thus providing greater flexibility for deploying their staff and enabling the periods of monitoring to be expanded.
The scheme, which allows authorities to clamp and fine drivers, was introduced in 2017 as a collaboration between between Ashford Borough Council, Kent County Council and the Department for Transport (DfT).
A key part of the scheme, which was agreed with the DfT, involved a change in the national clamping policy for HGV’s so that a clamp could be fitted for first time offences.
Since the original scheme was introduced, over 4,300 illegally parked vehicles have been clamped.
Ashford Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Safety and Wellbeing, Cllr Paul Bartlett, said: “Although there are many designated truck stops across the county, many areas in Kent – particularly Ashford – have experienced issues with overnight lorry parking on side roads and industrial estates.
“This new trial will ensure that even more effective enforcement can be taken on lorry drivers who ignore the rules by illegally parking in the borough. We hope it will benefit and improve the lives of our residents and businesses who are affected by lorries parking around our businesses parks and on this section of the A20.”
The areas included in the overnight lorry parking enforcement, which runs between 20.00 and 07.00 Monday to Sunday, are:
· The A20 between Charing and Ashford
· Wotton Road
· Ellingham Industrial Estate
· The Orbital Park, Sevington
· Ashford Business Park, Sevington
The permission to clamp for this period and at these locations only was agreed by the Department for Transport.