Response to the GSE Leaflet

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 media.’ Please rest assured that the recently formed Action Group will be responding and is acting on your behalf to fight this abomination and monstrosity from impacting our villages and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which we inhabit.

The leaflet references ‘misapprehensions’ under the following headings and provides information that we believe to be highly misleading and a complete misrepresentation of the truth:

Truck Off quick summary

Stand with your neighbours and tell councillors and our MP to reject the truck stop and protect our AONB – your voice now is crucial to stopping this development.

Increased traffic

The leaflet claims that because the truck stop would be designed to serve existing traffic on the A20 it will not generate additional lorry movements. One of the reasons why the proposer alleges that additional lorry parking is required is that there will be an anticipated shortfall of 1,200 lorry parking spaces in Kent by 2034 according to the ‘Kent Overnight Lorry Parking Study’ carried out for Kent County Council – up from a shortfall of 330 in 2005. This additional need can only be the result of additional lorry traffic. 

Feedback received from residents of Sevington during the planning process for the ‘Sevington Border Post’ highlighted concerns shared by residents regarding additional lorry movements on local roads around this facility and the Ashford International Truck Stop, with drivers parking in nearby roads rather than paying the required fees. Displacement of traffic to local roads is surely inevitable, whether GSE wish to accept this point or not.

Scale and visual impact

The idea that concreting over and removing natural habitat from 70 acres of farmland and woodland will bring substantial environment benefits to an existing Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is ridiculous. Replacing outstanding existing natural landscaping with man-made ‘bunding and woodland’ is an act of environmental vandalism that cannot be permitted either in the Kent Downs National Landscape AONB or in any other National Landscape AONB.

Their leaflet argues that there will be minimal visual impact in Capel-le-Ferne. Did GSE simply cut and paste their leaflet to Capel residents? There is no mention of the impact on the AONB and its outstanding natural landscapes, the Heritage Coast from which the lorry park will be visible, nor for residents of West Hougham and Church Hougham who will most certainly be able to see the development, despite the promised screening from mature tree planting. 

Noise

The claim that noise is not an issue at Ashford Truckstop is patently false. There is record of residents’ complaints about noise infringement during the building process and on a 24-7 basis since this facility was opened as part of planning documents published by Ashford Borough Council. Common complaints include noise from reversing lorries, movement of the lorry side curtains, beeping, and a low frequency humming noise from the facilities and refrigeration units.

There is also the question of coupling and uncoupling of trailers which tend to be noisy in the extreme. The idea that all noise will be dampened by planting woodland, which will take years to fully establish, is preposterous. The leaflet states that the Ashford development is 600m from the nearest housing estate. This development will be on the doorstep of Hougham residents, much closer than the 600m mentioned here. Their own commissioned report from Lichfields consultants states the proposed park would be 400 metres from West Hougham and 600 metres from Church Hougham. Some of our neighbours have an immediate border with the proposed area.

Lighting

The lighting issues at Ashford International Truckstop and at Sevington Border Post are well documented in the media and on the Ashford Borough Council planning portal. This has not been mitigated as claimed and is an ongoing issue for residents, visitors to the area and to organisations including the CPRE and RSPB. There is also a study carried out by Waterman Building Services in June 2025 that ‘demonstrates the extent of the glare being experienced’ and identifies ‘upward light which could be considered as contravening the Ashford Local Plan Dark Skies (Policy ENV4).’ Lessons have clearly not been learned.

On the edge of the village

There appears to be a fundamental misunderstanding of where the villages of West Hougham and Church Hougham begin. This development would sit at the heart of our communities, in the middle of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and would be a blight on the local countryside and natural landscape. 

Increased pollution / congestion

Claims that the lorry park is the solution to Dover and Folkestone’s pollution and congestion problems because secure off-road parking will be provided are extremely far-fetched. Under the proposals shared with Dover District Council and the proposed new road layout there is enough road on the A20 Court Wood Interchange slip to accommodate seven HGVs. As soon as there is any build-up of lorries trying to enter the lorry park, there will be a queue on the A20 from this junction. Likewise on exit there is likely to be a similar build up after release of trucks to the port after Operation Brock or TAP, with many drivers simply using the Folkestone Rd via Dover Town Centre, to avoid queuing on the A20 to enter the port. The lorry park will not prevent anti-social parking on local roads – drivers will not be guaranteed to pay £45 per night to park at a lorry park, they/many will park on the surrounding roads.

Have your say

Residents of West Hougham and Church Hougham would have appreciated being informed directly about GSE’s plans for a lorry park on the AONB, impacting our villages. We were not extended that courtesy and learned of the proposals through the local news media. Residents would also appreciate an opportunity to comment on the planning documents but are limited to viewing a public exhibition at West Hougham Village Hall on 4 December, where ‘constructive feedback’ is welcomed. Constructive engagement with the local community would have been more welcome prior to this bombshell being dropped on residents. Given that this has been planned as early as the Spring of 2024, Hougham Without Parish Council was given a mere 21 days to come up with any proposals regarding the developer’s scoping application. This was disgraceful.

The real issue

The real issue at stake here is the protection of the Kent Downs National Landscape Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the conservation of its natural habitat. This area is specifically designated within Dover District Council’s Local Plan as an area where residential development will not be pursued because of its environmental importance and outstanding natural character. It is afforded the highest level of national protection from unsightly developments such as this. Approval of a lorry park in this area would directly contradict local planning policy. There is no proof that the exceptional circumstances required for such a development exist. In short, there is no need to build this lorry park on the Kent Downs National Landscape AONB. 

There is more at issue here than the impact on residents of our twin villages. This is about preventing development on our national areas/landscapes of outstanding natural beauty and conserving our exceptional environment, habitats and wildlife. If a proposal like this can happen in the Kent AONB, it could happen anywhere – the Cotswolds, Lake District, the Peak District. Where will be next? If we truly value our environment and if Kent really is the garden of England, we should all stand against the proposal to build a lorry park in the middle of our precious AONB. This land is scarce, precious and an important and a valuable legacy for us, our children and grandchildren. Let’s not allow them to ruin it! 

Negative opinions

You may have heard expressions such as “no chance”, “it’s a done deal” or “you’re wasting your time”. Oh, ye of little faith. We have every intention of fighting this proposed monstrosity to the bitter end. We are in touch with sponsors, stakeholders, politicians, environmentalists, ecologists and the like who share our views and are supporting our cause. This is not at all “a done deal” in the slightest and there is considerable precedent in examples of such applications being overturned at every hurdle. This however would be the first battle over such a project on AONB land which further improves our prospects. We will not allow our land to be plundered and pillaged!

And Finally

Your Action Group representatives are working on your behalf to stop GSE’s vision becoming a reality. We urge all residents to contact your elected local councillors and local MP to express your concerns. The Parish Council have already submitted their objections to the whole project including the scoping proposal along with the neighbouring Parish Council at Capel Le Ferne via the DDC planning portal. But that is just the first step in the proposal; next in line will be a planning application. 

Representatives of the developers’ will be at our village hall on Thursday December 4^th from 2.00 -7.00pm to produce their vision on this project and to assure you that your interests are well served and that there will be little impact on your lives. Please go to the presentation but don’t be browbeaten by false promises. After all, any hardships or difficulties you suffer and any negative impacts on your lives are wholly carried out in the interests of corporate profitability and the greed of a few – AT YOUR COST!

We are calling on all residents to come together to say A BIG NO to this proposal!

CHURCH HOUGHAM & WEST HOUGHAM, TWO VILLAGES, ONE VOICE!

You can download a copy of this letter here:

Action group Letter 261125.pdf

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