People living near the site of the proposed lorry park to replace Operation Stack have formed an action group to fight the plans.

Residents in Aldington, Smeeth, Sellindge, Mersham, Brabourne and other villages have created a pressure group called the 'Lorry Park Alliance - say no to Aldington lorry park.’

The KCC proposal is for a park capable of holding up to 3,000 lorries when cross-Channel ferries are unable to cope with demand. This would avoid the need for Operation Stack, which uses sections of the M20 as holding areas for lorries and causes traffic misery in many parts of Kent.

The Alliance is urging residents to petition and write to Kent County Council leader Paul Carter, Ashford Borough Council’s leader Paul Clokie and their MPs demanding a rethink on the proposals and that “a more suitable solution” is found.

Residents will be out in force at the popular Aldington Point-to-Point meeting on Easter Bank Holiday Monday handing out leaflets and asking race-goers to sign a petition.

Public meetings have also been arranged in Aldington Village Hall (Saturday, March 29 at 6pm), Sellindge Village Hall (Sunday, April 6 at 4pm) and Mersham Mountbatten Hall (Saturday, April 12 at 6pm).

ABC Saxon Shore ward borough councillor Peter Wood, who represents residents in the villages most affected, said: “Feelings against this lorry park are running high and residents are asking me 'what can we do?’

“Some residents have already begun writing to Kent County Council expressing their concern and dismay. We hope to encourage more and more residents to air their concerns.”