Lorry pollution  | | Lorry central - Dover is the lorry drivers' gateway to Europe |
Dover is the gateway to Europe, and thousands of lorries pass through the town every day. Love them or hate them, they're filling the shops with the goods we want to buy. But their numbers are increasing and that's breeding a health hazard and a crime wave. Health and safety dangers Thundering through the South East, lorries are the lifeblood of British business. In 2005 two million lorries passed through Dover Harbour, an increase of three per cent on the year before. That's good financial news for the ferry operators and hauliers, but there's a flip side too - pollution and safety hazards. The number of lorries coming through Kent is becoming a problem. When the lorries from the continent arrive in Dover, many drivers try to find a place to stop and rest. They're only allowed to drive for so many hours. The problem is that there aren't many designated places where they can stop. That means they park in the nearest lay-by, often blocking it completely or, even worse, sticking out into the road causing an obstruction. It isn't just a minor problem, two people died last year in two separate crashes with lorries. Police Constable Nathan Scamp says it was the worst crash he'd ever seen. Health hazards And it's not just a road safety issue. When the lorries finally stop, they've often been on the road for days. Rather than stop and go to a toilet, the drivers often urinate into a bottle, and then throw them in the verge.  | | Rubbish generated by lorry drivers' stop overs |
They also leave other rubbish causing a health hazard. Resident Simon Griffin has to live with the problem on his doorstep, and he thinks it's affecting his health. He can't sleep because of the noise, and the rubbish problem is potential health hazard. The Police are now patrolling the lorries parked in Ashford. And there's another problem. Parked up lorries are being targeted by organised criminals, who steal their valuable loads. In the last year there's been a five fold increase in the number of thefts. On average six lorry loads a month are stolen in South East Kent alone. Lorry thefts The increase in thefts is causing great concern to Peter Monkhouse, a transport manager at a Dover haulage firm. His lorries are frequently targeted: "They just use a knife, slice through the side of the lorry, and they're in. We've now invested in these reinforced anti-slash curtains."
But reinforced curtains don't stop the determined criminals. The criminals are now turning to more sinister and dangerous tactics.  | | Chilling experience - lorry driver Neville Brinkhurst |
Lorry driver Neville Brinkhurst from Tenterden was the unfortunate victim of a chilling ploy. He parked up, drew the curtains, locked the doors and went to bed. While Neville was sleeping, gas was fed into his cab, forcing him into an unwakable sleep. The thief then broke in and stole his money, credit cards and mobile phone. Neville was shaken but unharmed. But only weeks later he was gassed again. Neville was gassed while in France and Spain but drivers say the ploy is now being used in Kent. The Freight Transport Association say they've heard of about 10 cases in Britain in the last year.
Solutions? Crime is increasing, pollution has been getting worse, and the illegally parked lorries are a risk to road safety. So what's being done about it? The Dover Harbour Board is unashamed by the success of its business, and Chief Executive Bob Goldfield predicts yet more growth in freight traffic. But don't they want to take responsibility for the problem?
"Yes, we do, that's why we want to spend 20 million pounds on a solution." Bob Goldfield.
 | | Action is needed says Councillor Keith Ferrin |
There used to be a free lorry park at the harbour, but it was closed four years ago to make way for two new ferry berths. Now there are plans to build a new lorry park on the cliff top above Dover, but there's one problem - it's an area of outstanding natural beauty. There's inevitable opposition, and the County Council and County Councillor Keith Ferrin are meeting the government because they have a possible solution. They propose a congestion charge or ticket levy on vehicles passing through Dover to help fund a County Council run lorry park. The Department for Transport says it will examine the proposal for a ticket levy. The talking goes on, and there seems to be no immediate solution in sight, so the crime, road safety and pollution problems will continue. And that means the police will carry on with their lorry patrols.
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Inside Out - South East: Monday February 13, 2006
