The go-ahead has been given for a new temporary holding area for freight just outside Dover.

It is designed to complement Operation Stack, while also easing severe congestion and tailbacks along Dover’s Townwall Street.

On Sunday evening it was tested and saw the new holding area put into place on the A20 coastbound between Court Wood and Aycliffe roundabouts.

It stayed in place for only a few hours and is designed only to come into force for a short time during phase one of Operation Stack (between junctions 11 and 12 on the coastbound section of the M20).

Freight traffic is put in a holding queue and called forward as space becomes available in the docks.

The scheme was used again on Tuesday evening after berthing problems at Calais caused a build up of freight traffic approaching the Port.

Assistant Chief Constable Allyn Thomas said: “The trial of this new scheme produced good results and allows us to relieve traffic problems in the Dover town area when there are issues with congestion at the docks.

“It also means we can work more closely with the ferry operators to make sure that the services they are running are loaded to capacity, which will make the port operation as effective as possible.”

Spokesperson of the Kent Branch of the Association of British Drivers Ian Taylor said: “Anything that alleviates the problem of trucks jamming central Dover is better than nothing and I hope this idea works.

“However it must not be seen as a permanent solution.

“It is at best an emergency stopgap measure that should be used only as and when necessary.

“We see lorry parks as an end solution to the problem.”