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Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK) on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 4 September 2026. It was answered by Keir Mather (Labour) on Thursday, 10 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Road Traffic Control: Kent

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what was the cost of the temporary acquisition of both Lydden Hill Race Circuit and the former Folkestone Racecourse in anticipation of EU Entry Exit System traffic congestion in Kent during summer 2026.

Answer

As part of preparations to mitigate the risk of potential disruption during Summer 2026, the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) identified the need to have contingency sites available to provide welfare facilities to passenger vehicles in the case of severe disruption. These sites support the Forum's wider traffic management plans to maintain traffic flow and minimise disruption on Kent's road network. The sites used were at Lydden Hill Race Circuit and Folkstone Racecourse.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has worked closely with the KMRF to support their preparations, although the use and deployment of these sites by KMRF is operationally independent from the Department. DfT has put in place agreements with the owners of Lydden Hill and Folkstone Racecourse to enable these sites to be used as contingency sites over the summer period.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
26508
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Costs EU countries Immigration controls Kent Road traffic control
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk