GOVERNMENT officials say plans for a £13million moveable barrier to help ease congestion when Operation Stack is in place along the M20 are unlikely to come to fruition in the near future.

The Highways Agency said it was still investigating whether the revolutionary system, dubbed the Quickchange Moveable Barrier, was a viable alternative to closing off the motorway.

The news will come as a blow after the recent disruption caused to motorists and others during Operation Stack led to renewed calls for an alternative to be found.

The system would involve a continuous flexible barrier, made up one-metre long concrete units, being "unzipped" by a purpose-built lorry along the worst-affected stretches of the M20.

A feasibility study earlier this year said it would enable the M20 to stay open in both directions and could be put in place in as little as three hours.

The cost of installing the system between Junctions 11 and 12 of the M20 near Folkestone was estimated at £5.2million, with a further £6.9million for the same system between Junctions 8 and 9, between Maidstone and Ashford.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: "Clearly, this is an on-going situation and we are looking at options within the feasibility study and that includes the question of whether we should deploy the Quick Moveable Barrier.

"At this stage, we have nothing to say other than we are continuing to investigate and discuss this with our partners like Kent County Council."

Kent County Council has renewed its call for an alternative to Operation Stack.

KCC cabinet member for highways Cllr Keith Ferrin has written to the Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman, saying a solution must be a top priority.

Cllr Ferrin said: "In addition to the many lorries caught up in it, Operation Stack continues to cause immense suffering to Kent residents, business people and visitors alike. The Government must find an alternative now."