Kent County Council has been given new powers to clamp and fine lorries that are illegally or inappropriately parked.

The move will enable the council to keep roads in the county clear of illegally parked HGVs in Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe, Maidstone, Swale and Thanet.

Council leader, Roger Gough, said: ‘We recognise that antisocial HGV parking is already a problem in Kent and something that will most likely become worse once we have left the EU.

’I’m grateful to the Government for giving us these temporary powers which will act as a deterrent to any HGV driver and ensure that compliance is greater, meaning key routes on Kent’s road network are kept clear.'

The council is arranging contracts for patrols across the seven boroughs and for signage to be installed on all relevant roads.

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