An MP has reacted with fury after discovering secret plans to shut part of the M26 for a month in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The government has admitted it could use a stretch of the motorway to hold lorries if there is disruption at the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel – extending the scale of Operation Stack beyond the M20.
But Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat expressed his fury at being kept in the dark when he confronted the Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling on the issue today during a frosty exchange in the Commons.
“It comes to a pretty pass when an MP is told that work is going on to turn part of a motorway into a lorry park without any consultation with the local community or surrounding members.
“The M26 works started last night. I wrote to the Secretary of State in April asking if this was going to happen and I was assured only last night that there were no plans and only yesterday was it confirmed by Highways England that was exactly what was planned.”
The MP said he wanted answers to how planning permission has been granted “without any consultation.”
“Many of us who have worked hard to find somewhere for a lorry park elsewhere in the country.
“I want the department for transport to come up with better solutions than this because It is an acceptable to close down a part of Kent.”
