A lorry park owner fears Kent will be thrown into chaos if his lorry park is shut down by the council.

The site at Otterpool Quarry in Ashford Road, Sellindge, has accommodated an “overspill” of lorries without planning permission since summer 2015 - the last time Operation Stack was implemented.

Pat Breen, co-owner of the site and the Airport Cafe opposite, is aware that his application to keep it going is set to be refused at a Shepway District Council (SDC) planning meeting tonight.

He applied for retrospective planning permission for another two years until more parking is offered elsewhere.

The favoured lorry park site by the government is at the north side of junction 11 at Stop 24, Stanford.

If the plans for it come to fruition it will take up 250 acres and will be able to accommodate 3,600 lorries.

But this is on hold until a legal review set up be anti lorry park campaigners SOS Kent is either thrown out or accepted.

Mr Breen said: “At some stage two years ago we thought some parking would be put in place by SDC or Kent County Council.

“They should work with us to make the situation safer but they just want to close us down.

“All these lorries once again will cause chaos across Kent if we close.

“They will keep going until they can find a lay-by big enough.”

Speaking before the meeting Mr Breen said he was expecting the worst possible outcome.

He claimed that parking for his cafe customers across the road will be compromised if permission is not given as the truckers move bollards in a bid to park up.

He also feared the site will lay derelict and attract travellers to set up.

If passed there will be 73 lorry bays, four staff parking spaces and two permanent office areas with a toilet and shower for drivers.

It is recommended for refusal by SDC but it is up to the planning committee whether or not it will endorse the recommendation.

Planning officer Richard Elder has noted in his planning documentation that a stop notice should be served “requiring the use of the land as a lorry park to cease immediately.”

See next week’s Folkestone & Hythe Express for a full update and reaction.