MP Gordon Henderson has stepped up his campaign for a lorry park in Swale after the government backed down over its plans to create one off the M20 to alleviate Operation Stack.

The Sittingbourne and Sheppey representative has pleaded for more parks with toilets for drivers and has hit out at “great ribbons” of trucks which illegally fill lay-bys at night.

He and Swale councillor Mike Whiting have earmarked land alongside the A249 at Ridham Dock, Iwade, as a suitable location.

Mr Henderson said: “Many business owners have come to me asking where their delivery drivers can park their lorries at night.

“And residents have complained they are fed up with seeing lorries in lay-bys especially along the A249 corridor which is one of the busiest trunk roads in the South East.

“Creating a new lorry park on unused land next to Ridham Dock away from houses seems to me a win-win situation and a much more practical solution than simply clamping them and moving the problem to somewhere else like what is happening in Ashford.”

He said Swale council was investigating plans to have a lorry park in Faversham but said that would not relieve problems in Sittingbourne and on Sheppey where many HGVs are parked at weekends.

He said it would also lead to more congestion on the A2 as lorries drove between the towns.

He said an improved access to Ridham Dock at the Kingsferry Bridge would also relieve pressure at Grovehurst roundabout.

Cllr Whiting said: “I have been pushing this for many years and now Swale council and Kent County Council seem to have bought into it, too.

“Operation Stack has to be resolved but we also need to solve the everyday problems of lorries serving Swale.

“Sheerness Docks is expanding and the next phase of the Eurolink industrial estate is on the cards.

"It would also be good to get Swale Halt used more.”

The area is already the base for Morrisons’ distribution centre.

A new depot for Aldi is due to open next year at Neats Court on the Island.

“Sheerness Docks is expanding and the next phase of the Eurolink industrial estate is on the cards. It would also be good to get Swale Halt used more...” - Cllr Mike Whiting

Last week the government backed down on plans to create an area for heavy vehicles at Standford, near Folkestone.

It said the disused Manston Airport in Thanet would be used in the short-term for emergency parking.