A BID to build a lorry park on a site off the M20 as an alternative to Operation Stack could take up to two years to come to fruition.

Kent County Council is expected to identify two sites as possible locations for a lorry park capable of holding 2,000 lorries next month.

Details of the sites have not been disclosed but the county councillor leading the search has warned the park is unlikely to offer an immediate “quick fix” solution.

Cllr Keith Ferrin (Con), KCC cabinet member for the environment, said it could take up to two years before issues such as securing planning permission and the money needed were likely to be resolved.

He said: “There is nothing instant about it. It will take between two and three years and even that could be optimistic. It cannot be a quick fix.”

He said that the likelihood of having to apply for planning permission, along with the possibility of a full public inquiry if the proposed park was on a green field site, meant the process could prove protracted.

An additional unknown factor would be who would meet the costs of buying land and running the park.

“We all want a solution because people are pretty fed up and we think we can find one,” he said.

In February, Cllr Ferrin said the park could cost up to £20million.