THE Port of Dover's planned expansion and increase in freight traffic is to form a vital part of Kent County Council's argument in a row with the government over lorry charges.

The Department for Transport announced in January that foreign lorry drivers could pay as much as £10 a day to use United Kingdom roads in a bid to make the haulage industry "fairer" for domestic firms.

UK hauliers already have to pay to make journeys in other European Union countries including France.

But the Herald understands there has been a lack of communication between Westminster and KCC with the Kent authority only finding out it was not going to receiving any of the funds generated by the scheme via a press release issued by the DfT.

It now plans to lobby transport minister Mike Penning for a cut of the cash to help maintain its main roads and motorways.

Shepway Liberal Democrat spokesman for finance Tim Prater said: "The Port of Dover's plans for a second terminal and subsequent expansion means lorry traffic going through Kent is only going to increase.

"Yet KCC has found out from a press release issued by the government that it plans to keep all the money generated for itself.

"I think something like 87 per cent of all international road freight comes through the docks and the Channel Tunnel but it appears Kent will lose out on this money-making scheme which affects it the most."

Councillor Prater added: "Operation Stack has been implemented something like 56 times in the last three years.

"When it's in place it devastates towns like Dover and Folkestone whose residents need the M20 to get about.

"We feel that if anyone other than the UK haulage industry is to benefit from these fees then it should be Kent and its transport infrastructure."

See comment, page 21