Council bosses hope to extend a trial which has seen more than 1,600 lorries clamped in less than a year.

HGV drivers have been banned from parking overnight on the A20 between Charing and the Drovers roundabout since October.

The 18-month trial - which also covers four industrial estates in the town - is due to end in March, but councillors hope to lengthen it.

Cllr Paul Bartlett, chairman of the joint transportation board at Ashford Borough Council, is a supporter of the scheme.

He said: “We have got about eight months left of the trial and the plan is to extend it when it does come to an end, because it has been very successful.

“If we could extend it by another 18 months, that would be the plan.

“I would also like to see it extended to the Henwood industrial estate because there have been some problems there with lorries parking.

“It needs agreement with the Department for Transport (DfT) and it is quite a convoluted process, but I see no reason why it can’t be extended.”

Of the 1,660 lorries clamped since October, 739 have been on the A20 alone.

Truckers are banned from parking in the areas covered by the trial between 8pm and 7am.

If clamped, they have to pay a £150 release fee.

In a report prepared for last week’s joint transportation board meeting, the council said: “The numbers of HGVs parking on the A20 and all other areas have reduced significantly.

“We are now finding an average of between five and 10 HGVs in contravention each and every night."

Westwell and Hothfield parish councils prepared a joint statement ahead of the joint transportation board meeting last week.

It highlighted concerns the lorries could return if the trial is not extended beyond March 2019.

It said: “The improvement in overnight and weekend conditions along the A20 is transformative for residents and road users.

“The road is much safer because there is less turning across it especially at night.

“The noise, vibration and air quality is much improved by the absence of overnight and over weekend chiller trucks.

“The parishes are concerned the experiment could end in March 2019 unless DfT can agree an extension to the temporary arrangements that allow HGV clamping on the first offence and fines of £150.

“There is also a need to bridge the time gap until the expanded Waterbrook truckstop is open."