Ashford’s MP Damian Green has again asked the government about the future of Operation Stack.

The Conservative MP wants Secretary of State for Transport Ruth Kelly to make an announcement and say whether or not the government will pay for a lorry park now that Kent County Council (KCC) has earmarked a site.

KCC says the government should pay the estimated £30-40 million it will cost to build it.

The proposed site near Aldington is proving controversial with hundreds opposed to the plan to build on 70 acres of green fields close the electricity converter station.

The idea is to build a permanent lorry park which will be open 365 days a year, plus have a larger area where lorries can park when bad weather or industrial action blocks the ports, instead of ‘stacking’ them on the M20.

When KCC identified a preferred site last month, Mr Green welcomed the news and he agrees that the government should pay for it.

However, although he attended the last meeting organised by the Lorry Park Alliance who are opposed to the plan, he has not said whether or not he supports the decision to build the lorry park near Aldington.

The Leader of the House of Commons, Harriet Harman, said she would ask Ms Kelly to write to Mr Green.

Full story in this week's Kentish Express.