The GSE sponsored Court Wood truck stop in the Kent Downs protected National Landscape risks blighting not only one of the most scenic and picturesque areas of the iconic white cliffs country, but impacting on tourists enjoyment of the area. The Iconic White Cliffs of Dover - National Treasure What People Love About The White cliffs Many describe the section of cliffs between Dover and Folkestone as: “One of the most spectacular coastal walks in Britain.” They value: Wide, o

Since the start of our campaign to protect the Kent Downs National Landscape in the protected AONB White Cliffs Country, we've seen significant support and profile in the local media. We are fighting for our green spaces to stay clean , green , accessible and importantly preserved for our children and grandchildren. Countryside near Dover in the Kent Downs AONB As you can see many people have already signed the petition on this site to stop the irrevocable destruction of th

Latest Updates from your Action Group Despite the delay in the formal application being submitted from developers GSE for the proposed 70 acre HGV lorry park in the protected Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB), the PORL Action Group have been working tirelessly behind the scenes on your behalf. Recent highlighted news (attached) is the establishment of a Petition and Go fund me page, liaison with various elected council members and our MP for Dover, Mike Tapp. We have col

140,000 less HGV's on the A20 / M20 per year The Govt have announced the future direction of travel for freight haulage with a £15 million investment to take HGV's off the A2/M20 corridors and onto the rail network. Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said: " This deal will boost British businesses by delivering a faster and more sustainable way to transport goods" The government says it would “help to reduce congestion on the roads leading to less pollution, less traffic, and fewer

The white cliffs country plays host to a myriad of wildlife and habitats, including native and migrating birds Key Bird Species of the White Cliffs of Dover: Birds of Prey: Peregrine falcon, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, and Red kite. Cliff-Nesting & Sea Birds: Northern Fulmar, Herring gulls, and Black-legged kittiwake. Grassland & Scrub Birds: Skylark, Linnet, Whitethroat, Lesser whitethroat, and Corn bunting. Other Notable Species: Ravens. The White Cliffs of Dover are a vital

Cotswold AONB Refusal for HGV park Proposals for a HGV lorry park on the A417 in the Cotswolds AONB have been refused. The proposal was initially refused by the local council and then refused again by the independent planning inspectorate after the developers appealed . Noteworthy in this case were the arguments put forward that are similar to the proposal in Dover. Notably it was argued in the Cotswolds AONB that there were exceptional circumstances to satisfy para. 177

Court Wood Lorry Park won't solve Operation Brock or Tap Current statistics reveal that up to 10,000 lorries use Dover Port everyday. The Port of Dover have not got the capacity to hold the freight for significant periods of time before departure This has led to the establishment of various schemes over the years, both Operation Brock on the M20 and Operation Tap on the A20 - see differences below Common Confusion: TAP vs. Stack and Brock While "Operation Tap" is frequent

Protect our Countryside The protected Heritage Coast of Dover is under threat from a proposed unprecedented 70 acre industrialised 600 place HGV lorry park ! Let's not let this happen to our beautiful, green and pleasant land ! It doesn't have to be this way, there are plenty of of alternative and suitable sites outside protected National Landscape areas, and before both the Channel Tunnel and Port of Dover on the M20 that are suitable, viable and adequate. The White Cliff

Le Shuttle Freight moves 1.2 million trucks annually The channel Tunnel currently accommodates 25 % of the freight travelling between the UK and the continent since its opening in 1994. The 32 mile tunnel was a major piece of civil engineering designed to create alternative options for transportation across the English Channel, especially when either inclement weather strikes, or port / road problems prevent departures from the port of Dover. Freight via the Channel Tunnel

GSE proposed HGV park on the white Cliffs of Dover The HGV lorry park developer, GSE and their PR company Maxim, came to Hougham Village Hall on Thursday 4th Dec to hold a public consultation on their huge infrastructure project planned for the protected White Cliffs Country, Heritage Coastline. Negative Response from Village Luke Mullaney, development manager for GSE stated that ".... over 150 members of the public attended and all 100% of them were negative in their resp

If you care about the unsightly development of a huge 600 space HGV lorry park destroying the iconic white cliffs protected landscape , make your views known to your elected members. Your Elected Members Contacts Contact your Dover District Councillor for this ward (Alkham and Capel Le Ferne) Cllr Martin Hibbert Correspondence address: c/o Dover District Council White Cliffs Business ParkWhitfieldKentCT16 3PJ Mobile: 07796 444860 Email: cllr-martin.hibbert@dover.gov.u

Plans for the proposed Courtwood Lorry Park near Hougham are drawing attention to the potential impacts of large-scale industrial development located directly in nationally protected landscapes . The proposed site lies inside the formal boundary of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) .It is barely 450 metres from the iconic white cliffs and protected Heritage Coastline, and soon to become Internationally recognised UNESCO geological Park , the first betw

At a time when the UK’s ability to feed itself is steadily declining, we cannot afford to lose any more farmland. Yet the proposed truck stop in Hougham would do exactly that—destroy prime agricultural land that is vital for local production, biodiversity, and the long-term resilience of our community. This is not just a local issue. It sits within a national crisis that is already affecting every household in the country. A Nation Increasingly Unable to Feed Itself The UK

You will all have received last week’s leaflet from GSE Group/GSE Truckstop Developments Limited regarding the proposed ‘Court Wood Interchange Truckstop.’ The leaflet talks about ‘misapprehensions and falsehoods regarding the project – something that may well have been avoided had these organisations had the courtesy and decency to inform residents of West Hougham and Church Hougham about the proposed development, rather than everyone finding out when the news reached local

Residents of Church Hougham and West Hougham are facing a development proposal that threatens to permanently change the character, tranquillity, and safety of our villages. A large-scale HGV parking facility—situated less than 400 metres from our homes—has entered the scoping stage for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Despite the enormous implications for our landscape and our community, the time allowed for local response has been unacceptably short. Yet even with l

Residents of West Hougham and the surrounding villages turned out in overwhelming numbers this week to voice their anger and deep concern over plans for a massive 70-acre HGV truck stop proposed for the Kent Downs National Landscape. The public meeting, held at West Hougham Village Hall, was standing-room-only as locals gathered to hear details of the scheme and challenge its potential impacts. According to reports, the mood in the hall was resolute: this development is not w

A major industrial truck stop is being proposed in the heart of the Kent Downs National Landscape — one of the most cherished and environmentally sensitive areas in our region. Although this development is not yet a formal planning application, the process has already begun, and the community must stay informed and ready to respond. Recently, Dover District Council asked key bodies, including the Kent Downs National Landscape (KDNL) team, to comment on the Environmental Impac