FOREIGN TRUCKERS CAMPING IN THE UK

Dear Residents,

From the Sunday Times today.

Foreign truckers hog UK laybys to dodge French rest fines

Mark Hookham and Hazel Shearing

March 12 2017, 12:01am, The Sunday Times

Foreign lorry drivers are spending "long weekends" parked in laybys on British roads to get around strict French and Belgian rules on rest periods.

  A foreign lorry driver urinating in a layby near to a channel port.

Increasing numbers of drivers, mainly from eastern Europe, are "camping" for two consecutive nights in their lorries, clogging up laybys and rest areas near the Channel ports in southern England.

Under EU rules, lorry drivers must take a weekly break that averages 45 hours. Both France and Belgium have banned drivers from taking this in their cabs amid fears that poorly paid eastern European truckers are living in their lorries for months at a time, taking jobs from local drivers and causing parking problems.

In Belgium, truckers caught taking their long break in their vehicle can be hit with a £1,500 on-the-spot fine, while in France the haulage company they work for can be fined £26,000.

The UK, however, has no ban on drivers taking their 45-hour break in their lorry, which the Road Haulage Association (RHA) says encourages foreign drivers to spend this long rest period in UK laybys.

"What is happening is that particularly eastern European drivers are effectively camping across western Europe, including in the UK, and taking their long rest break in the cab," said Jack Semple, policy director at the RHA. He suggested that drivers taking long breaks in their cabs should be fined £300.

Last weekend, The Sunday Times identified a Polish-registered lorry pulling a P&O Ferrymasters trailer, which was parked on Friday afternoon in a layby on the A2 near Denton, 10 miles from Dover. It remained in the layby until Sunday morning and at one point the driver was seen urinating by the side of the vehicle.

The lorry, which was delivering goods from Tilbury in Essex to Duffel in Belgium, left the layby around 45 hours after it was first pictured and drove to the Dover ferry terminal.

P&O said the lorry was owned by a subcontractor and that it encouraged its haulage firms to "park in recognised truck stops or depots", adding: "We will be taking up this matter with the haulier."

Katarzyna Szydlowska, co-owner of the lorry firm and the driver's wife, denied he was trying to avoid being fined in France or Belgium. "The driver decided to make his weekend break in UK," she said. "He is not always able to find a proper parking area with a toilet."

Annika Hawthorne runs a cafe in a layby on the A2 and says that each week at least four foreign lorries park for two days. The drivers sometimes used stoves to cook in the back of their lorries and treated the hedge as a lavatory, she said.

Paul Carter, the leader of Kent county council, is calling for the government to build a series of lorry parks, saying the amount of parking is getting worse.

"We've tried to put bollards up in certain lanes where all sorts of stuff goes on — you get prostitutes operating out of white vans and all sorts of things going on," he said.

The Department for Transport said it was "consulting" on the issue adding: "We are keeping our approach under review."

URGENT. REPLY BY SUNDAY MIDNIGHT.

 URGENT. PLEASE REPLY BY SUNDAY MIDNIGHT

Dear Resident,

Here is the web link to 'Freight Action Plan for Kent' which KCC have issued to consult on their plans for the future. I believe that we should all respond to it as individuals and steer the KCC towards a network of smaller lorry parks instead of supporting the one huge disaster at Stanford. You can download the pdf document and a questionnaire document in Word. The consultation closes 12 March.

http://consultations.kent.gov.uk/consult.ti/freightactionplan/consultationHome 

As you will see the Freight Action Plan outlines five key actions:

1.        

• To tackle the problem of overnight lorry parking in Kent 
• To find a long term solution to Operation Stack
• To effectively manage the routeing of HGV traffic to ensure that such movements remain on the strategic road network for as much of its journey as possible
• To take steps to address the problems caused by freight traffic to communities
• To ensure that KCC continues to make effective use of planning and development control powers to reduce the impact of freight traffic.
• 
  

S&DRA

ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL.

Dear Residents,

Please take the time to read the article below. Written by David Plumstead, it sets out the battles that we are all facing in this part of East Kent. 

Here it be:

Another Brick in the Wall

If successful, Shepway Council's latest attempt to treat its residents and electorate like mushrooms by holding Tuesday's Cabinet meeting to discuss Otterpool Newtown behind closed doors may yet prove to be a mistake. Of itself an ill-judged decision but also another brick in the wall the Gang of (now) Seven and our sycophantic and self-serving member of Parliament are building around the Lubyanka in Castle Hill Avenue.

But we know what fate ultimately awaits walls erected to keep the public at bay. 

The last wall I had anything to do with was in Berlin. 3mtrs high and made of solid concrete but that took residents on both sides just hours to knock big holes in once the politicians and the despots on the East side had been shown to be made of straw. Remind you of anyone?

So much is being done against the wishes of the electorate and residents of Shepway, now might be a good moment to remind ourselves of the growing list of outrageous, environmentally and socially unsustainable developments being foisted on us by our own despots, namely Alistair Stewart, David Monk, Jeremy Chambers, Susan Priest, Jennifer Hollingsbee, Susan Carey and Damian Collins. Here we go:

1. Otterpool Newtown - saying goodbye to the villages of Sellindge, Lympne, the Racecourse, Newingreen, Westenhanger, Stanford and West Hythe - 2. the M20 Lorry Park, 3. Princes Parade, 4. Shorncliffe Camp, 5. 1150 more plus shops etc etc at Nickolls Quarry and 6. another 8,000+ listed in the Local Development Plan or already approved/started and 7. umpteen disparate small and medium sized developments scattered across the District amounting to another couple of thousand at least.

8. Then there's the grotesque blocks of concrete flats at Fishermans Beach where the new occupants are already lobbying to remove the inshore Fishermen and the Seabrook Sea Anglers and their huts because they are spoiling their view and their nets are ugly. Pots calling kettles black here!

I participated in the proposed Jnc 10a Planning Inquiry ten days ago and learned that within three miles of Sellindge we and the residents of Mersham are faced with a new complex of 1. really huge Warehouses - the biggest in the SE - and 2. yet another lorry park 3. the disappearance of the C12th listed Sevington Church to be buried among the 4. Houses 5. Houses 6. Houses. 

Thousands of them at 7. Cheeseman's Green soon to connect with an even bigger 8. Kingsnorth and bury 9. Aldington. The 1,500 houses of 10. the Finberry development continue all along the SE side of the Ashford ring road with Swans flying on the hoardings on the way to several thousand more at 11. Chilmington Green and 12. a further 950 at Court Lodge 13. 400 at Steeds Lane and 14. 150 at Pounds Lane making a total of 3,000 e & oe.

There are so many I have probably overlooked several and if I have counted any in twice they will make up for the thousands more we haven't been told about. I may not have one foot in the grave but I feel bound to say "I don't believe it!!"

Now Eddie Stobart management flew in by helicopter ten days ago during the Planning Inquiry to inspect the warehouse site rejoicing in the name of  'Stour Park' wouldn't you know it. If that huge international haulage company sets up shop at Jnc 10a it will be a 24/7 operation offering no peace for the occupants of the Pilgrim's Hospice dying immediately on the opposite side of the A20.

    

Officially the words 'Stour' and 'Park' may mean a river and a 'large public garden in a town for recreation' but they are new words in the English Planners', Councillors' and Developers' lexicon, where the definitions, with apologies to the compilers of the Concise OED at the bottom of page 533, need to be extended to include warehouses, industrial and housing estates, sewage pumping stations and roads.

We need to be very  conscious of the use Local Authorities and Developers now make of pleasant words like 'Park', 'Green', 'Lane', 'Court Lodge' and (river) 'Stour' when naming once precious places about to be covered in concrete. Our language is being highjacked from under our noses along with our open spaces.

 

David Plumstead

Shepway Environment and Community Network

IT'S OFFICIAL - SHEPWAY CONSTITUENTS ARE MUSHROOMS: KEPT IN THE DARK AND FED....####.

Dear Residents,

Listed below are the ten Cabinet Councillors that voted on keeping the public in the dark as to what's going on with the proposed Otterpool New Town development. 

Councillor Dearden (top left) gave a lengthy speech on how he has dealt with magistrates and the judiciary in the past and that keeping certain elements of information from the public in some cases is a good thing. He went on to say that he understands how the Otterpool development is a contentious issue among some constituents, but in this case, he thinks that excluding the public from the (7.3.17) evenings debate would be the correct thing to do. Councillor Godfrey seconded the proposal and the remaining eight Councillors voted unanimously to hold a secret Otterpool debate.

We at S&DRA think it was wrong to do so. Why? Because it was our money, £5.2 million,  that purchased the land in the first instance and it will be our money that will be used, apart from the £750,000 from central Government, to spend on consultants, 'spin' companies and agents to forward the propaganda machine in the SDC quest to obliterate our rural communities.

Now, we would like you all to take a good look at these so called representatives of our constituents and write their names in an appropriate place in your home or workplace. We will remind you all of the election date in 2019 when you can do your utmost to ensure that this motley crew of apparatchiks are democratically voted off the Shepway scene, once and for all.

  Cllr Dearden     Cllr Godfrey   Cllr Hollingsbee    Cllr Carey    Cllr Ewart-James

   Cllr Martin         Cllr Collier          Cllr Peall           Cllr Monk         Cllr Love

One exception to the rule is Councillor Carey in her dual role as District and County Councillor. It has been mentioned by us and others before, and no doubt countless reminders will follow about the 4th May (this year) County election where Ms Carey will be standing to be re-elected as our KCC Councillor. Would you like to see Ms Carey re-elected as our KCC representative? 

Here's a slightly less official, somewhat jolly looking photograph of Ms Carey, just in case you overlooked her above.

Oh..... What was the question? You decide on the 4th May.

S&DRA

TIME TO EXCLUDE THESE TWO FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Dear Residents,

An email has just been copied to us from a Lympne resident with a reply from Jenny Hollingsbee (see her status below) relating to this evenings debate on the proposed Otterpool New Town. 

We have highlighted her personal opinion. We believe that the public, as Council Tax payers, should be included in any debate on how OUR money has been, or will be spent in the future. As our joint District Councillor, are we to assume that District Councillor Susan Carey shares Councillor Hollingsbees' sentiment.

Joint District Councillors: Susan Carey and Jenny Hollingsbee.

Thank you for your email.

As I am sure you are aware, the Officer responsible for our Legal Department makes a recommendation to Councillors with regard to whether a meeting should be held in private or not.  At the Cabinet Meeting today it will be Cabinet Members decision as to whether this advice should be followed.   However, I believe that it is appropriate to take legal advice based on the information to be discussed.  The meeting will consider issues relating to land assembly for Otterpool and the financial information relating to it.  It seems to me that this is very commercial sensitive information and a valid reason for the meeting to exclude the general public.

Jenny Hollingsbee

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities 

Ward Councillor - North Downs West 

Mobile 07887918458

BREAKING NEWS.- JUST IN.

Dear Residents, 

We have just been copied in with an email sent from Les Barratt, Vice Chair of Monks Horton Parish to Amandeep Khroud at SDC.

On reading, we found this to be both unbelievable and outrageous. Where are our representatives? All towing the same line? Unfortunately we won't have a chance to vote for a change in our District Councillors until 2019, but we will all be voting in the forthcoming County election on the 4th May in the Shepway Wards. Change MUST come.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Dear Ms Khroud,

I refer to your email dated 15th Feb 2017 to Mr. Ashley Tanton which reads:

The report being considered on 7th March is a key decision because it "is likely to be significant in terms of its effect on communities living or working in an area comprising two or more wards in the councils area."

Please would you explain to me, if the effects on communities are so significant, why are those residents within those communities not being included in any debate, or discussion on the 7th March. 

As you are Head of Democratic Services and Law, I would like you to explain to me, in detail, what your definition of 'Democratic Services' actually means.

I look forward to your response in the morning (6th March 2107).

Les Barratt. Vice Chair, Monks Horton Parish Meeting.

T R A N S P A R E N C Y -- SHEPWAY DISTRICT COUNCIL, TAKE NOTE.

Dear Residents,

In line with our policy of total transparency and following up on our last post: 'The Worm is turning', we are posting an email conversation between a long standing Sellindge Resident and County Councillor, Susan Carey. Strong language indeed from our Resident but totally warranted if you consider the deplorable way in which Shepway DC treats us all. If you are in any doubt as to the validity of our Residents email, why not contact Ms Carey this (Sunday) evening; She clearly states it's a good time to ring her.

If you have an email conversation in a similar vein, we'd love to hear from you.

Dear Susan Carey,

I read at the end of your monthly article that you mentioned that you had been pleased to serve such a beautiful part of the country, but we know that you are hell bent to ruining the area of Sellindge, Stanford, Lympne ,Otterpool and Princes Parade. Why?.... I used to take my grand children to the existing pool and the council failed to keep it clean and the changing rooms were a disgrace so we stopped going. 

The same thing will happen in Princes Parade and the developer will fail to build 'affordable housing' like they did at Imperial Green. Wake up before SDC ruin a beautiful place that we can all enjoy. It is unique. We are fed up with all the lies and closed meetings.

Many people who have lived here for years and newcomers are dismayed that SDC turn deaf ears to all our pleas. 

Yours Sincerely

Sellindge Resident.

Dear Sellindge Resident,

I do listen to you but I don't agree with your view on Otterpool Park.  We need more homes and I believe a better way to provide them is to have a planned new town like Letchworth, Kings Hill or Poundbury.  These are beautiful places with green spaces.

If you would like to meet I would be happy to see you or ring me at home on 01303 670561.  Sunday evenings are a good time to catch me at home.

Kind Regards,

Susan Carey 

Member for Elham Valley, Kent County Council

District Councillor, North Downs West, Shepway District Council.

Ms Susan Carey is standing for re-election on the 4th May.

Please look out for our next post: The Silent Majority: And why are they so silent?

S&DRA.

THE WORM IS TURNING.

Dear Residents,

The March edition of the Sellindge Parish magazine is, unfortunately, only delivered to Sellindge Parishioners which precludes information spreading from outside the Parish. As S&DRA is a conduit for information to ALL, we feel that the March edition of the said magazine is worth reading for very good reason as it mirrors the feelings of the majority of informed Shepway residents.  

A local resident, Richard Lofting; a long standing resident and respected author, has taken the time to make his views known to the Parish Council and to our amazement his letter has been published. Here it be:

Dissenting Voices

           Having read in the Sellindge Parish news letter over several months, the one sided discussion on the New town proposal at Otterpool and how marvellous it will be for us, the condescending tones of our District Councillors and others are almost at the level of a Headmistress at a primary school telling the children it is for their own good, so it must be the right thing to do? 

I also remember that the village has had an 'all inclusive' survey on the needs of the village regarding housing and what we wanted. The upshot of that was a village plan produced that most people were in broad agreement with it, although I feel it was more of an architects utopian dream rather than a practical plan. However, the point I am trying to make is, why bother with such surveys when another idea comes along and the original plan is totally disregarded by the elected council members. Ok, it is outside the village, but will detrimentally effect us all in the locality. We have recently seen what happens when the proletariat has had enough, Brexit and Trump are but two examples of dissent towards the establishment. It is high time the role of councils and their minions were returned to the position of servants of the people rather than their masters, as it seems to be at present. 

I feel the only way forward from here is for the electorate to vote with their feet, and  at election time to forget political allegiances of old, and vote for the candidates who are actually listening to us rather than the establishment stooges we have at the moment!

Richard Lofting

In the same magazine our present KCC Councillor Susan Carey writes:

My term of office as County Member for Elham Valley is nearly at an end so next month instead of a report in this newsletter I'll be delivering a leaflet to you. It's up to you if I return after the election on 04 May. It is a privilege to represent such a beautiful part of Kent and its people

Ms Susan Carey

We at S&DRA will be looking forward to reading the mentioned leaflet. Either way, we will be publishing Ms Careys' achievements in, er, protecting such a beautiful part of Kent and representing its people.

Restraint is a wonderful thing.

S&DRA.

SECRET MEETINGS

Dear Residents,

Our friends at Shepwayvox have posted below. We would urge you all to contact Monk, Stewart et al at SDC to make your views known.

Another reason to join like minded Residents in the Giant Rally / Demonstration on the 22nd April in Hythe.

S&DRA

Abuse of Power by Shepway District Council. You decide.

Posted on March 3, 2017 // 1 Comment

On Tuesday March 7th Shepway District Council's  elected Cabinet will convene to discuss Otterpool Park behind closed doors. We believe that SDC are acting beyond their powers (ultra vires) and have made an unlawful administrative decision, by holding the meeting behind closed doors. We ask in whose interest are SDC's working for. An offshore company Cozumel Estates Limited  based in the known secrecy jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands or the residents of Shepway?

The agenda regarding Otterpool Park states:

• Otterpool Park

Report C/16/106 updates Cabinet on the significant level of activities undertaken by the Council as joint landowner/promoter for Otterpool Park since the last detailed Cabinet report of 8^th June 2016.  This report includes updates on the Planning Collaboration Agreement, Development Agreement, land assembly, masterplanning, financial position, previous and future community engagement events and ongoing member engagement.

SDC are using the following legislation to exclude the public:

• s100A(3) of the Local Government Act 1972

•  Paragraph 3 Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the LGA 1972

Paragraph 3 Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the LGA 1972, states:

• Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

The meeting on 7th March is simply to discuss matters which "relate to" the "proposed development" Otterpool Park, eg finance etc

We at Shepwayvox contend the Council cannot use the legislation above and that Paragraph 9 of Part 2 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 prohibits them and SDC are acting beyond their powers (ultra vires).

As it states:

Information is not exempt information if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1992. [emphasis ours]

Reg 3 Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1992.states:

Subject to regulation 4 (not relevant on this occasion), an application for planning permission by an interested planning authority to develop any land of that authority, or for development of any land by an interested planning authority or by an interested planning authority jointly with any other person, shall be determined by the authority concerned, unless the application is referred to the Secretary of State under section 77 of the 1990 Act for determination by him.

A Court of Appeal case  [2016] EWCA Civ 758 has made a distinction between 'commercial' and 'financial' information and says the latter is not exempt from disclosure. It is clear they will discuss finances and therefore this part of the meeting, could we believe, be open to the public.

The Council's solicitor, Amandeep Khroud, is adamant that the Cabinet can discuss these matters behind closed doors. We understand that even a reporter from the Folkestone & Hythe Express, Matt Leclere, has contacted Amandeep Khroud and expressed the same sentiments as us.

It is clear to us that SDC are potentially abusing their powers to allow the meeting regarding Otterpool Park to go ahead behind closed doors. But where are the opposition voices, UKIP, Labour, Shepway Greens, Shepway Lib Dems, who in part or whole oppose the development. There voices remain silent, why are they silent? Have they been neutered by the Conservatives?

The only option is to contact the solicitor to the council, the Chief Executive, Cllr David Monk and members of his cabinet, setting out why you believe this meeting should be in public

Their email addresses are:

amandeep.khroud@shepway.gov.uk

alistair.stewart@shepway.gov.uk

david.monk@shepway.gov.uk

for the rest of the cabinet their names can be found here

None of the above constitutes legal advice. The information presented is provided "as is" without representation or warranty of any kind.

A VERY SPECIAL DATE FOR ALL OF YOUR DIARIES.

Dear Residents,

After careful consideration and numerous calls from residents for a gathering, coupled with conversations with our alliance partners, a date and venue has been set for a GIANT RALLY. 

We are looking to make this event the biggest demonstration that Shepway has ever seen.

 DATE: 22ND APRIL  -  VENUE: HYTHE

The exact time and place are yet to be announced. We can say that there will be a number of guest speakers and a march will be taking place through the town.

You will all recall how successful our demonstration was last August with well over 750 residents in attendance. 

And do we really have to tell you the reason for such a gigantic gathering? The continuing dismay surrounding the actions of Shepway District Council and it's lack of transparency relating to unwanted and hideous developments within our communities.

More details will follow very shortly. In the meantime, please share on Social Media and SPREAD THE WORD - THANK YOU.

S&DRA.