Protesters questioned MP Damian Collins over proposals for a lorry park at Stanford.

In a packed room at Westenhanger Castle on Friday night, Mr Collins took questions from residents and members of the recently formed SOS Kent (Smarter Options than Stanford) group.

Questions on a host of topics about the new park ranging from environmental issues, compensation, security including prostitution, using technology to avoid building a large holding area and alternative sites were all posed.

Mr Collins said on several occasions he felt "we have to solve Operation Stack" and "off-road parking" is the solution.

Mr Collins added he felt the plans "will solve Stack as we know it. I think it's disingenuous to say it won't solve Stack.

"I can't promise there will never be congestion. We can deal with traffic off road.

"We wouldn't be having this debate if we had three days of Stack this summer but we had 32 and I don't think we can sit by and do nothing."

He stressed there will be an environmental assessment "which will be probed further" once a site is decided and detailed work has been carried out on that option.

He added: "In terms of visual and noise impact a lot of that will depend not only on the site but also the design and in the consultation plans we don't have that.

"I would do everything I can as I know the council will as well to support the villages in making sure there's proper mitigation and compensation for the households in terms of loss of value on their property."

But Stanford parish council chairman Matthew Webb, who chaired the meeting, said he did not feel Mr Collins "effectively made a case for why a single lorry park" was the solution.

Speaking to KentOnline after the meeting he said: "One of the things I've learnt is how little we know about what's going on.

"I thought it was quite alarming considering he's one of the prime instigators of trying to push this solution how little information he [Mr Collins] was able to give residents about genuine concerns around pollution, particulates and possible healthcare issues.

"You would have thought he should know something about that by this stage just based on the size of the lorry park regardless of where it is."

A full report from last night's meeting will be in Wednesday's Folkestone & Hythe Express and Thursday's Kentish Express.