Plans to build a lorry park at Whitfield have been scrapped by KCC, much to the delight of Dover District Council.

The proposed area in the White Cliffs Business Park was earmarked as one of three potential sites in Kent housing up to 300 spaces for HGVs to park.

But just a day after the proposal was made public, leader of the district council, Cllr Paul Watkins made his objections known.

Cllr Watkins and Labour leader at the council, Cllr Mike Eddy spoke at against the proposal last week at a KCC meeting in Maidstone.

Westenhanger is now the agreed site, where a lorry park will be built.

Growing investor interest in the White Cliffs Business Park was just one of the reasons the proposal did not “sit comfortably” with the council leader.

He also pointed out that this wouldn’t go down well with the construction of a new housing development.

KCC first introduced these plans in a bid to ease traffic flow throughout the county - and it was hoped that lorry parks would keep the HGVs from parking in residential areas, such as the Aycliffe estate that has knowingly suffered with the issue.

It was also aimed at reducing the impact of Operation Stack.

Pleased with the result, Cllr Watkins said: “We would like to thank KCC for listening to the concerns we expressed last week, including the effect of such proposals on the business park and the nearby residential development, and the effect on the wider regeneration of the area.

“This proposal was not appropriate for this site, and we are very pleased it has been withdrawn.”

'This proposal was not appropriate for this site, and we are very pleased it has been withdrawn.' - Leader of DDC, Paul Watkins

Cllr Eddy added: “I was delighted to hear the Conservative cabinet member, Cllr David Brazier, say that if a lorry park was agreed at Westenhanger then KCC would drop the Whitfield proposal.

“I also suggested we go further, that we need a change in the law to make sure lorry drivers use lorry parks and don’t park on the roads.

“KCC can move its own bill, rather than wait for parliament, which is something I will continue pushing for.”