Tim Prater and the Lib Dems launch "Truck Off" campaign for Cheriton High Street

4.10.56pm GMT Mon 27th Feb 2006

On Saturday Tim Prater and the Cheriton Lib Dem started a direct action campaign to retake Cheriton High Street slip road for local residents. You can learn more about the "Truck Off" campaign at www.truckoff.org.uk including the Truck Off campaign plan, how to get involved and watch Sunday's coverage for the campaign on Meridian News.

Despite years of requests from local residents, Lib Dem campaigners and others, no action has yet been taken by Kent County Council (who handle Highway issues). There is a plan to deal with the problem by converting the slip road to a bus / taxi priority lane, but this has been promised for many months, and there is no sign of the plan actually being carried out.

The "Truck Off" plan is really simple - if enough local people park their cars in the slip road, then lorries can't park there. We want to encourage as many local residents as possible to park in that area, reducing lorry parking and improving the area for local people.

It's currently legal to park in the Cheriton High Street slip-road layby - which is what the lorries themselves are relying on. We should reclaim the area as a Cheriton Residents' Free Parking Area.

With cars parked in that area, lorries would have no way to park. And if the lorries can't park, many of the problems of noise, rubbish and damage to the verges will also be removed.

Local residents are being asked to park in that layby from noon on Saturday 25th February. Lorries can't be forced to move, but as soon as they do move, cars need to fill the available spaces.

Local Lib Dem campaigners were in place on Saturday 25th, starting to reclaim the layby, flattening the verge, clearing litter and erecting signs.

All local residents who would like to help solve this problem are asked to park on the slip-road whenever there is a space - reducing street parking congestion in Roman Way, Samian Crescent and Canada Close, and reclaiming the street for Cheriton from the lorry drivers.

The more occupied space, the less opportunity there is for lorry parking, and lorry drivers will seek alternatives further away from local houses. Please get involved - and ask your friends and neighbours to do so as well.

• Please park responsibly and legally at all times

• Please park on both sides on the road, making sure at all times NOT to block the road or put yourself or vehicle in danger

-If parking on the "island" side, please take care of traffic when crossing the road

• Please park up by the kerb, but NOT on the verge as this causes damage

• Please do NOT approach or argue with lorry drivers.

• Leave a couple of car lengths between cars. Lorries need more space than that to stop.