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Felixstowe-based logistics business Prologic has submitted plans for a new lorry park to be built near to the Suffolk container terminal, which it said would ease pressure on the A14 if Operation Stack was required.

The plans are for 85 HGV parking spaces on land off the old A45 adjacent to the A14, as well as a covered maintenance bay, offices, drivers’ mess, security fencing, CCTV and site lighting.

The proposed site is within five kilometres of Felixstowe port and Prologic said it had the opportunity to provide economic support to the local economy and the continuing success and viability of the port.

In its planning application it said: “Prologic are a local family business that has been providing freight and transport services to users of the Port of Felixstowe since 2005.

“The company has continued to grow since its formation and is now in need of new premises in the port hinterland to progress - supporting the local economy and the vitality of Felixstowe port.

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“The lorry park is sized to accommodate around 170 movements per day.”

It added that Operation Stack was devised to relieve pressure on the A14 and surrounding roads when the port was forced to close and it was impossible to host all of the lorries within the port itself: “There is therefore a clear need for lorry spaces both on the port and reduced pressure on Operation Stack,” it said.

“This proposal addresses both of these issues by freeing up port land and by providing parking for Prologic vehicles when access to the port is not possible.”

However, Suffolk County Council Highways has already lodged an objection, claiming it would generate a significant number of HGV movements onto an A14 junction with a substandard length on its slip road and that inadequate information has been supplied about traffic.

Prologic holds a licence authorising a total of 56 HGV movements out of three depots in Felixstowe and Stanford-le-Hope, Essex.

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