THE extension of a lorry-parking ban in Kent will cause “many more months of misery” for drivers if ministers fail to provide adequate facilities, Unite warned yesterday.

A six month on-street and lay-by ban was imposed in January as the county became choked with freight vehicles queueing to cross the Channel post-Brexit — and Kent County Council has asked ministers to extend it beyond June 30.

Councillors say the ban has brought “tremendous relief” to residents and want it extended indefinitely.

But the situation has seen fights break out at overcrowded service stations and designated lorry parks, with drivers also facing the Hobson’s choice of breaking driving-time regulations to find a legal stop-over or risking being clamped and fined.

The union said that the problems are getting worse, spilling over into neighbouring Essex — and that the condition of limited toilet and showering facilities is often very poor.
 
Unite national officer Adrian Jones said: “The government cannot simply extend the parking ban without making immediate provision for drivers to be able to park safely and have access to decent facilities so they are properly refreshed and safe to drive long distances the following day.”