Drivers trying to avoid congestion around the port are damaging surrounding roads making them dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists to use.

That is the message from Dover District councillor Nigel Collor who has written a letter to Kent County Council calling on Highways to resurface the A256 Sandwich to Whitfield and B2011 Dover to Capel-le-Ferne roads.

His letter, which was sent to Matthew Balfour, the KCC cabinet member for environment and transport, states that congestion and Dover TAP could be responsible for the dangerous state of the roads.

He said: “As you are no doubt aware due to storm force winds in the Channel and the usual heavy amount of HGV traffic on Wednesday there were long delays on the Dover sections of both the A20 and the A2. Ships were severely delayed and there was just nowhere for this traffic to go.”

On Wednesday last week, heavy rain and winds saw the port traffic at a standstill along Jubilee Way, with ferry delays and slow-moving traffic.

Cllr Collor said: “Truckers will always try to find another way round congestion, with the A256 and the B2011 taking most of the pressure.

“Subsequently the surfaces of these roads are really getting to a dangerous state.”

He said the roads pose a danger to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists in Dover.

The portfolio holder for access and licencing at DDC said he understands that there may be an issue with funding but he would like to see the work carried out to prevent accidents.

Cllr Collor also said Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the busiest for freight traffic and this is often when Dover TAP is implemented.

Dover TAP is a traffic assessment which sees port-bound vehicles using the left hand lane on the A20, and cars, coaches and all other LGVs using the right hand lane.

On Tuesday, January 12, it was implemented from 3pm for 34 hours, the following Tuesday it was put in force for 36 hours and on Tuesday, January 26, it came into effect at 3pm and was still in place 42 hours later.

Kent County Council has not commented.