Kent County Council considered 10 other potential lorry park sites to cope with Operation Stack but has refused to say where they are.

The county council has confirmed its search for a suitable location for a lorry park to deal with Stack led it to consider alternative sites off the M20, the A249 and the A2 before deciding the 70-acre Aldington site, seven miles from Ashford and just off the M20, was likely to be the best option.

But it has declined to identify where those alternatives are, saying that to reveal them before a formal planning application is submitted would not be in the public interest and would result in "public uncertainty and local anxiety".

The Kent Messenger Group sought further details about the lorry park plan through the Freedom of Information Act.

In its formal response, the council confirmed it did hold information about all three issues and was likely to release it at some point, but was not prepared to release it now.

~ See our original request and KCC's full response >>>

The authority argued that to do so could lead to "public representations" being made at the time when a planning application was being drawn up.

The four-page response states: "The council acknowledges the public interest is best served by the ability to publicly debate and question planning proposals.

"However, early release of this information would be likely to cause public uncertainty and local anxiety prior to the full public consultation resulting from the planning application.

"This is likely to result in representations being made at a time when the application is being formulated, which would delay the planning process and cause further public uncertainty."

~ Blunder delays Stack park plans >>>