Plans for large lorry park off the M20 to deal with Operation Stack should also be available for overnight parking for HGVs all year round, say county transport chiefs.

A report due to be discussed by county councillors today says Kent County Council should back the "Stanford West" site being proposed by Highways England - one of two options for a permanent lorry park capable of holding at least 3,600 HGVs.

When not in use for Operation Stack, KCC says it should be available for hauliers who would have to pay a fee.

But it has emerged that people who live near the sites may not qualify for compensation under blight law.

County transport chiefs say the Stanford site, which is near Junction 11 of the M20, is the better site in terms of access.

But they also acknowledge concerns about its potential impact on environmentally sensitive land and historic buildings, as well as those living in Stanford and Sellindge.

Meanwhile, county councillor Susan Carey, who represents the area, has delivered a withering assessment of the plans.

She accused the government of squandering money on a sticking plaster solution and failing to consider alternatives.

She also warned residents affected would not automatically be compensated if their homes were blighted, as the scheme did not have to go through the usual statutory planning process.

She said: “It is wonderful the government has come up with £250m but why not ask people to come up with other options?

"Instead, Highways England has gone straight for a lorry park and that is not going to offer a long-term solution.

"This is a sticking plaster solution that will address the symptoms but not the root cause. It is not a good way of spending £250m. It is a lot of public money and it needs to be spent wisely."

She said the solution to Operation Stack lay in having a wider strategy which took account of the impact of traffic growth in Kent.

She added Highways England’s consultation had been “terrible” and it had failed to show precisely where the boundaries of the two proposed sites were.

“It is very distressing for residents and I am concerned they have gone for non-statutory consultation," she said.

"People will not be entitled to any compensation and I want to see a compensation scheme in place similar to the one we had when the Channel Tunnel was built."

As things stood, Highways England could do what it liked, she added.

Of the two options, Cllr Carey said she favoured the Stanford West site but only as "the least worse option".

KCC says in its report that it is essential property owners who have already been blighted by the proposals be "fully compensated for the loss of property value and inability to now sell if they need or want to move".