Dear Residents,
For those of you who are not on Facebook or have had a news 'blackout' for the past week, here we have the very latest news:
Whilst residents wait for a decision to be made on the Lorry Park, we were surprised to learn of a statement issued by Balfour Beatty on the 26th May 2016.:
Balfour Beatty has been awarded an up to GBP130m contract by Highways England for the construction of a proposed lorry area near the M20.
The contract will cover the development of the proposals during the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase of the project and will also cover the construction of the lorry area subject to a decision to proceed from Government.
The contract is valued at up to GBP130 million and will be a key part of the overall GBP250 million lorry area, announced by Chancellor George Osborne in autumn 2015.
Balfour Beatty will utilise its technological expertise across the project including the latest Building Information Modelling to define the most efficient approach to design and the construction programme, avoid programme and utility clashes, improve the works sequence and optimise the design of the structures whilst reducing time on site and cost and enhancing safety.
Group chief executive Leo Quinn said: "Balfour Beatty's expertise in major infrastructure projects and long standing relationship with Highways England will be crucial for the safe and successful delivery of this project. The M20 lorry area will provide much needed relief to Kent's road networks while supporting local economic growth and development." At peak construction, the project could employ up to 150 construction workers and is anticipated to be partially open by the summer of 2017.
The contract will cover the development of the proposals during the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase of the project and will also cover the construction of the lorry area subject to a decision to proceed from Government.
The contract is valued at up to GBP130 million and will be a key part of the overall GBP250 million lorry area, announced by Chancellor George Osborne in autumn 2015.
Balfour Beatty will utilise its technological expertise across the project including the latest Building Information Modelling to define the most efficient approach to design and the construction programme, avoid programme and utility clashes, improve the works sequence and optimise the design of the structures whilst reducing time on site and cost and enhancing safety.
Group chief executive Leo Quinn said: "Balfour Beatty's expertise in major infrastructure projects and long standing relationship with Highways England will be crucial for the safe and successful delivery of this project. The M20 lorry area will provide much needed relief to Kent's road networks while supporting local economic growth and development." At peak construction, the project could employ up to 150 construction workers and is anticipated to be partially open by the summer of 2017.
In the Sellindge Village News, June 2016, Susan Carey KCC/Shepway Councillor, made the following statement:
'Finally, it looks like we will have to wait until after the EU referendum on 23rd June before we hear which site Highways England are recommending to the Secretary of State for the lorry holding area. There are strict rules about what can and can't be announced by all levels of government during an election campaign and civil servants often advise caution to their ministers/council leaders to avoid lengthy and expensive wrangles in court about whether an announcement influenced the election one way or another'.
We think that those strict rules that Ms Carey alluded to in her statement have been compromised. True, the statement hasn't been issued by government, but as a nominated contractor employed by Highways England, an agency of central government, there would have been a duty of care and responsibility to government and residents in issuing this statement before an election and thereby influencing the election outcome.
We will be taking this up with our legal team.
S&DRA.
