FARMLAND normally used for grazing animals could be adapted to provide a solution to Operation Stack, according to the leader of Kent County Council.

Cllr Paul Carter said an alternative to closing the M20 had to be found after the most recent bout of disruption caused by the implementation of Operation Stack.

"I am told that we would need about 100 acres of well-drained land, which could be overlaid with a protective mesh to provide a holding area for lorries whenever Operation Stack is needed. The issue then is the how the police would direct traffic away from the motorway."

Thousands of vehicles were parked on the motorway last week when bad weather disrupted ferry crossings and a strike in France hit Eurotunnel trains.

Cllr Carter urged farmers and landowners to come forward if they felt their land could be used, saying KCC was willing to pay what it could.

"I do not think that it need cost a huge amount of money. The government is talking about £10million for a removeable barrier but I and others have reservations about that."

He revealed that he had instructed KCC officials to come up with an action plan in ten weeks that would help limit the disruption caused by closing stretches of the M20.

"The most recent use of Stack shows just how it badly it damages the whole economy of south east Kent and with road freight traffic expected to grow by up to six per cent a year, we need to act now."

He accepted that there could be better ways of using the M20 that did not involve complete closure of the motorway.

"I do not think we make the best use of the motorway space. We do need to consider about maximising the the use of the hard shoulder," he said.

Transport minister and Kent MP Dr Steve Ladyman said that if a site could be found, it would be considered but he was continuing to explore the option of a quick moveable barrier.