Councillors are urging the Government to give Dartford council the power to penalise drivers who block traffic by stopping in yellow box junctions.

Borough and county councillors have teamed up with Dartford MP Gareth Johnson (Con) to lobby the minister of transport to allow the town to become a “special case”.

If successful, this would mean the local authority could fine drivers for blocking the box junctions on the Blue Star roundabout, above the A282.

This is due to a constant build-up of traffic on the Princes Road Interchange when motorists use the slip roads to avoid the Dartford Crossing.

Cllr Andy Lloyd (Con) said: “I don’t need to tell anyone what a mess it is in Dartford when the crossing has got a problem, we all know it. One of the reasons we have been told is the un-enforceable box junction at the Blue Star roundabout.

“The main issue is sat navs send drivers to that part of the A2 when there is a problem on the tunnel approach road, which blocks the junctions.”

The vice-chairman of the joint transportation board, Cllr Keith Kelly (Con) said: “The leader of the council and the MP have been lobbying the Government, making a special case for Dartford because there aren’t too many towns in the country that have a significant piece of national infrastructure running through the middle of the town."

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said: “I have been making the case to Highways England, KCC, Kent Police and ministers that enforcement of the yellow box junctions at junction 1a and 1b would have a significant impact on local traffic being able to move east/west when the approach to the crossing is congested.

“I met with Highways England again this week to be updated on the issue and whilst there remain some legal issues to overcome, I am optimistic that progress is being made on this issue.”