A new proposal by the county council to create a 3,000-space lorry park on land at Westenhanger in Folkestone has been described as ‘bonkers’ by the leader of Shepway Council.

The unexpected development comes after days of delays and gridlock caused by Operation Stack.

KCC leader Paul Carter is understood to have discussed the new plan today with David Monk.

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In a statement issued by Shepway council, Mr Monk described the scheme as a knee-jerk reaction to recent events that would be an insult to the people of Shepway.

“Kent County Council originally proposed a 450 space lorry park on a triangle of land close to Stop 24 Services. But it reduced this to number 300 following its own environmental concerns and in the face of our objections."

"We are faced with a bonkers proposal to create a 3,000 space lorry park that will be used at most four times a year. It’s ridiculous” - Cllr Monk

“Now we are faced with a bonkers proposal to create a 3,000 space lorry park that will be used at most four times a year. It’s ridiculous”

Cllr Monk said Shepway was willing to do its bit to help ease the problems caused by Operation Stack and had been working with local landowners and the operator of Stop 24.

“We have identified an unused strip of ‘dead’ land that runs between the motorway and the railway line and this would be a far better site for a lorry park. We envisage 300 spaces but with the potential for up to 800. This would absorb the numbers KCC originally proposed and more.”

Video: Lorry park idea branded 'bonkers' - Jem Collins reports

“The jump from 300 to 3,000 is an insult to local people and lacking foundation or justification. KCC simply haven’t exhausted all the options."

The statement added: “We are very happy to be part of the possible resolution to Operation Stack and have been taking a very considered and measured approach as to how we can help. But we are not going to have all the county’s and country’s problems dumped in our district.”

The council had been carrying out a review of its employment sites and land south of Junction 11 had the potential to be of far greater use to local people as a high quality business site than a giant concrete lorry park.

“We have been taking a very considered and measured approach to the best use of land around Stop 24.

"We believe the ‘dead’ strip of land between the motorway and the railway could accommodate a lorry park and that the triangle would best serve local people as an employment site. To have all our careful work blown out of the water by KCC’s ludicrous lorry park is beyond belief.”

KCC was forced to ditch a similar sized lorry park on a 70-acre site off the M20 at Aldington as it would have been too expensive.

KCC leader Paul Carter said the plan made sense and discussions were already underway with landowners:

"The 3,000 figure is a bit of an exaggeration - it is nearer to 1,500.It is going to cost in the order of £20 to £30m but just look at the shambles we have had to endure over the last few days and the immense disruption to local businesses. We have got to find an alternative. This site has already got good access.We could if necessary go for a compulsory purchase order."

He added: "Of all the possible sites, this is the best one. It is now most important that the government recognises this as a major infrastructure project and that the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel do and consider making some contribution to the costs."

KCC would continue drawing up separate plans for a series of smaller round-the-clock lorry parks, he said.