Truck drivers attending a major border site are leaving bottles of urine and piles of rubbish at the roadside, angry residents say.
Those living close to Sevington Inland Border Facility (IBF) in Ashford say more needs to be done to stop truckers parking their vehicles on roads around the site – including A2070, A20 and Junction 10a roundabout.
During a visit this week, KentOnline found more than 10 bottles appearing to contain urine, along with food packaging, alcohol cans and plastic bags discarded along the A2070.
The Department for Transport (DfT) – which owns the site – says it has no plans to improve the current facilities at the customs checkpoint, which it says includes more than 30 toilets.
However, Ashford Borough Council (ABC) member Cllr Paul Bartlett (Con) – who lives close to the facility – says action is required.
“Drivers can’t stay on site because of the way it’s been designed, but they drive about 20 yards out of the entrance and they stop and park and leave detritus of various matter behind,” he told a meeting of ABC’s overview and scrutiny committee on April 29.
The IBF, which is used to check goods going in and out of the UK, was initially only supposed to be a temporary facility following Brexit, but the site was granted permanent status by the government in December.
ABC – which is in charge of part of the facility – has power to clamp trucks parked illegally, but cannot penalise drivers parked on the A2070 outside the site as it falls within National Highways’ remit.
Although owned by the DfT, the IBF is jointly run by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), HMRC and ABC.
Cllr Bartlett told the meeting: “To some extent the DfT have started to recognise this issue and some staff with their downtime are asked to collect the litter that’s created, but that’s the kind of thing that needs to be formalised.”
Ashford-based truck driver Mason Stephens says while better facilities are needed at the IBF, action needs to be taken against truckers parking outside the site, which is close to Ashford International Truckstop.
“It still feels like a temporary site – they’re like the toilets you would get at a festival,” he said.
“You can’t even buy a bottle of water in there, so they need to improve facilities to allow lorries to stay there if they need to for a bit.
“Some drivers are parked up outside from Friday through to Monday, but people are turning a blind eye to it.
“The haulier in charge of the driver should be paying to provide them with facilities, so they could use the truckstop or another site.”
When asked about the calls for better facilities, a DfT spokesman said the IBF “already has welfare facilities for drivers”.
“They include more than 30 toilets, seating areas, access to water and bins across the site, so there is no excuse for littering,” they said.
“We take the concerns of local residents seriously and are working with ABC on further measures to help tackle the issue.”
They added there are no plans to add more welfare facilities as drivers are not expected to take long stays at the site, while a litter management plan is also being prepared for submission to ABC.
Last week, KentOnline revealed how lorry drivers trying to access the site are continuing to damage nearby properties.
HGVs have knocked down fences, damaged cars and churned up grass verges since the IBF opened in 2021.
Neighbours living in Church Lane, Sevington, say the issue is continuing as drivers are still trying to use the staff entrance at the back of the facility.
