Council criticises construction of truck park

East Sussex County Council has criticised the construction of a port lorry park, insisting that local residents must come first.

Following a dispute over land situated next to Newhaven Town Railway Station, the council has called for a meeting with the French-owned Newhaven Port and Properties after work began on a 10-space HGV park without the residents' knowledge.

"We have offered land-swaps as we wanted to build a transport interchange at the station, with buses and cabs making public port access easier, but they rejected our request," a spokesman for the council says.

The French company argues it owns the land and has informed Lewes District Council, but the council says it has not been informed of construction plans.

The group's spokeswoman adds that LCT Support Services, customer support group for the ferry industry, requested the park for hauliers in desperate need of parking space.

Ian Newby, director of local haulage group AE Newby, confirms lorries have very restricted parking and welcomes the park as essential for HGV drivers.