Disgusted residents are demanding action after lorry drivers were spotted urinating in public and leaving plastic bags of human excrement lying around.

Residents have argued for years against the HGVs parking overnight along the A226, including on the brow of a hill there.

WARNING: Graphic image below

They fear it is dangerous for motorists using the London Road in Stone, near Dartford, as well as for pedestrians walking along the dark alleyway they create next to the neighbouring fields.

In February 2020 a motorcyclist was left with serious injuries after crashing into a parked lorry there.

Just months earlier, in November 2019, a man died after his car was involved in a collision with a lorry on the same stretch of road between St Clements roundabout in Greenhithe and Hedge Place Road in Stone.

Stone Parish Council has long called on Kent County Council to do something about the vehicles, with little success.

But four years after the fatality, Cllr Paul Cutler (Con) says the situation is just getting worse as the length of lorries parked up is getting longer and longer, with dozens of vehicles now there every night.

But he is realistic about the alternatives.

“If we stop them parking there, where are they going to go?” he said. “They will just end up parking somewhere even more dangerous.”

And he fears creating a lorry park would not be a viable option.

“Unless you are going to charge people to park there it is not something people would want to put up their land for,” he said.

“And if you charge the drivers then they won’t go there.

“They have found somewhere they can park free so they’re not likely to move from there to somewhere they have to pay for every night.”

Cllr Cutler would like to see deterrents put in place along one side of the road, such as double yellow lines or cones, as he says it would be less dangerous if they only parked on one side.

He also wants the police to encourage lorries parking on the brow of the hill to move on.

‘I have found bags containing human waste when I do litter-picking’

“They must drive past them countless times. Why not knock on the cab window and ask them to move along to somewhere it is not so dangerous?”

With recent reports of residents witnessing lorry drivers urinating against fences or into bottles and discoveries of what appears to be human excrement in plastic bags during litter picks, Cllr Cutler is encouraging residents to to keep a look out for disrespectful behaviour.

“We need evidence to help build up a case,” he said. “Urinating in public is indecent exposure and you should call the police if you see it.

“I have found bags containing human waste when I do litter-picking.

“We want to get this stopped.”

A police spokeswoman said: “We had a call at 11.45am on June 18 reporting the general issue in London Road, Stone, but not a specific incident.

“Officers are aware of the concern and should anyone be seen committing these offences they will be dealt with appropriately.”

Neighbours also fear for their safety walking past the tall vehicles at night.

Gemma Murrells, who lives nearby, often has to walk along the pavement between the line of parked lorries and the fields.

“As a woman, it also doesn’t feel particularly safe walking past the parked up lorries,” she said.

“It makes the pathway feel really dark and enclosed and when you walk past three or four lorries in one go, it can feel really daunting and a bit worrying.

“It’s obviously even worse at night as often there are even more parked up.”

She added: “Lorries have been parking there for at least the 10 years I have lived here, but it’s definitely got worse recently and some nights they are all the way along London Road towards the Brent.

“I’ve seen bottles discarded at the side of the road with what could well be urine inside.”

Michelle Gardner, deputy director of policy at Logistics UK, which represents the freight industry, said: “The shortage of lorry parking is a well-known issue and Logistics UK has been pressing government to address this challenge for many years.

“HGV drivers must take legally mandated rest breaks and if there is not sufficient designated truck spaces with adequate lighting and security, they have no choice but to park in less suitable locations which can affect local communities.

“In the same way office workers need access to clean and safe hygiene facilities, this basic need must also be met for essential drivers in the logistics industry and Logistics UK has been campaigning to ensure driver facilities are an integral part of any road investment schemes.”

KCC was also approached for comment.