Broadsides have been fired from the opposing sides over plans for an Operation Stack lorry park.

Supporters for a lorry park clashed swords with residents today after MPs in the cross-party Transport Select Committee (TSC) published its verdict yesterday.

Kent MPs Damian Green (Ashford), Damian Collins (Folkestone and Hythe) and Charlie Elphicke (Dover and Deal) today criticised the inquiry's verdict that the case "had not been made" for a lorry park at Stanford.

But villagers welcomed the announcement by TSC chair and Labour MP Louise Ellman.

The campaign group SOS Kent (Smarter Options than Stanford) - a partnership between Stanford Parish Council and local residents - has been fighting for alternative options since the news emerged of Stanford being the preferred site for a 4,000 space lorry park last autumn.

"It is hugely gratifying that a UK parliamentary body such as the TSC has finally acknowledged that the ‘case for £250 million lorry park has not yet been made’." Matthew Webb, Stanford parish chairman

Matthew Webb, Stanford parish chair, said: “It is hugely gratifying that a UK parliamentary body such as the TSC has finally acknowledged that the ‘case for £250 million lorry park has not yet been made’.

"During our seven month campaign, the residents of Stanford and surrounding parishes have been ridiculed as 'NIMBYs'.

"This has proved incredibly distressing to many people in our communities at a time of great uncertainty."

He added: "It will be interesting to see if these same groups [Kent County Council, Shepway District Council and MP Damian Collins] now treat the TSC’s calls with the same contempt; I suspect not.”

Mr Green said the conclusion made by the committee was "completely wrong".

He tweeted: "Louise Ellman completely is wrong to say Op Stack lorry solution a hasty decision. Some of us have been campaigning for a solution for years."

His comments were echoed by Dover MP Charlie Elphicke who said: "Labour chaired Commons Committee says Op Stack lorry park decided on hastily. After all, we've only be campaigning to sort it for a decade."

Cllr Webb added: “The TSC’s report highlights many of the points that SPC has made in opposing the proposed lorry park and calls on them to be properly addressed by Highways England and the Department for Transport."

Folkestone and Hythe MP, Damian Collins, reiterated his previous stance that a solution was needed "at pace".

He added: "We've spent years looking at this and the lorry park is the best option.

"In October 2015 the TSC said off road solution to Op Stack was best and wrote to government asking how quickly it could be delivered."