Portable toilets which could be installed on Kent motorways for lorry drivers stuck in queues caused by Brexit border delays have been branded "unacceptable".

The Government proposals were scrutinised by a panel of councillors earlier today during a virtual meeting of Kent County Council's transport committee.

KCC's Green party leader, Cllr Martin Whybrow (Ind), sought assurances from highways chiefs that "substantial" welfare facilities would be provided for places such as the M20 and A20.

Speaking to the online panel of councillors, he said: "I don’t think pop-up toilets are acceptable at the best of times, let alone when we have got Covid-19.”

None are expected to be installed near the Port of Dover or Channel Tunnel crossing.

Contingency plans are currently being worked on by KCC, Highways England (HE) and Boris Johnson's Government through the Kent Resilience Forum (KRF), which works on emergency planning across the county.

KCC's corporate director for transport, Barbara Cooper, who is due to retire next year, said she discussed the pressing issue with the Department for Transport (DfT) and HE.

At today's meeting, she said: "I think the original assumption was that because freight drivers are likely to be there for two hours, why should toilets be provided?

"Our kickback is they should be provided because if you were holding an event for 2,000 or 4,000 people, we would insist through the safety advisory groups that you had full medical and welfare facilities."

The council, in particular, is seeking to stop HGVs driving into Kent towns and villages to use their toilets or shops for food.

Earlier this week, KCC was "assured" that the situation will be reviewed closely.

In particular, focus has been directed on improving welfare services at Brexit lorry parks, notably the 66-acre plot of land in Sevington, Ashford, and the former Manston Airport in Ramsgate.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove recently said customs checkpoints would be needed in Kent and a permit for HGVs crossing the Channel into Europe. The aim is to avoid daily queues of around 7,000 lorries.

Mrs Cooper added: "What we do not want is any impact on the local facilities.

"Particularly around Ashford's William Harvey Hospital and QEQM in Margate or freight drivers using the local facilities to go out and get food."

But no extra toilets are planned for Dover as traffic is expected to be flowing quickly by that point of the journey, it also emerged in the virtual meeting.

This came despite concerns raised by Dover District Council's transport cabinet member, Cllr Nigel Collor (Con), about traffic problems on the approaches to the town near the A256 from Manston, A20 and A2.

Explaining the reason, Mrs Cooper said: "We are having ongoing discussions with the Department for Transport and Highways England to try and make sure that Dover is kept clear during EU transition and any congestion.

"That is a live project that is moving forward and supported by the local MP as well."

Read more: All the latest news from Dover