An access road to a traveller site is still regularly blighted by rubbish despite a "significant investment" by the council to tackle fly-tipping, a campaigner has claimed.

Litter-picker Donna Clarke originally raised the issue two years ago after she drove past mounds of household waste dumped along the entrance to Barnfield Park, near New Ash Green.

And although she agrees the condition of the street has improved, she is calling for more action over the amount of rubbish that remains.

Photos show a few larger items left behind the boundary fence and general litter such as crisp packets and empty cans along the country lane.

The 62-year-old said: "It feels like the council think it has done its job and moved on. The site feels forgotten about again.

"Why has it not cleaned up the site and made it a better environment for the residents that live there.

"It is not like this just in Kent. Street litter which is what you see around it and I hate it but this is affecting people who have to live there.

"It is like they are living in a third world country. It is disgusting.

But Kent County Council (KCC) has disputed claims it has vacated its responsibility says it has taken action to both deter fly-tipping and keep the site clean.

A spokesman said: "Since 2021, a significant investment has been made in clearing the fly-tipping along the access road and erecting new fencing to deter further fly tipping.

"Barring one or two larger pieces of rubbish, what is left on the access road and site now is general litter that has been blown around in the wind and which lines the lanes leading up to site, too.

"Some of the residents do some litter picking in their cul-de-sacs when they are able. The collection of litter on public roads is the responsibility of borough and district councils."

KCC’s Gypsy and Traveller unit visited Barnfield Park last Tuesday and some more litter was observed. March 21

However, they spoke with a large number of residents and the council said none were unhappy about the state of site and "appreciated that conditions were improving".

Donna, who used to live in the village but now only visits to see her mum, thinks the solution would be installing gated access to stop those who do not live on the site getting in.

She added: "It is the lack of care and accountability."

Two years ago concrete blocks were put in place to serve as a deterrent against further tipping.

Funding was also secured to clear the additional waste on site and install new security measures, first mooted in a select committee report dating back to 2006.

But works to clear the fly-tipping blighting access to the site had been delayed due to "ecological" concerns over nesting birds.

KCC manages the Ash Road caravan park, which it acquired planning powers over in the 1990s, and pitches are occupied with 999-year leases.

It had originally told KentOnline the access road is private and therefore falls outside the responsibilities of its highways team.

Rubbish can be disposed of legally at KCC's recycling centres or by using the district council's bulky waste collection service.