A popular lorry park is to close after being declared a health hazard.

Signs warning of the pending closure of the facility opposite Nell's Cafe in Gravesend for maintenance work started to appear last weekend and leaflets were left on vehicles during two site visits by officials.

Highways England said the lorry park, which provides up to 30 spaces, needed a "deep clean".

However, it is not known how long the work will take to complete, and the nearby A2 is already plagued by vehicles flouting road laws and parking on hard shoulders.

HGV drivers are therefore being advised to use services 12 miles away in Medway or in Thurrock, Essex.

But the closure has angered truckers who have come under fire for parking on the entry and exit slip roads at Gravesend East.

Earlier this year, Kent Police and Highways England slapped fines on those parked up overnight in that area illegally. Some vehicles were impounded until the penalty notices were paid.

Driver Mark Lindridge was not one of those caught up in the clampdowns but he hit back at criticism at the time and said more needed to be done to provide parking facilities.

The 48-year-old, who lives in Gravesend, has now branded the Highways England decision as one made by "a suit with a degree and no common sense".

He disagreed that the facility needed an extensive clean, but said any mess at the site was exacerbated by bins being too small and not emptied often enough.

He was also concerned about how long the work would take.

"Everything takes twice as long and costs ten times what it should," said the father-of-two who has been an HGV driver for 15 years.

"Where do they think the lorries are going to go? That's a joke. You can't park next to the A2 in case you get a fine and now no parking at Nell's Cafe.

"They are going to start pushing drivers into town to find somewhere to take a break. That's got to be a decision made by someone wearing a suit with a degree who has no common sense."

But Highways England spokesman said it had "no choice" but to close the lorry park.

“Safety is Highways England’s top priority," he added. "The existing lorry parking area has become a health hazard leaving us no choice but to close the parking area for a deep clean.”

The Messenger reported in November that many HGVs appeared to be ignoring the designated lorry park, although staff at Nell's Cafe said drivers had complained that problems were being caused by cars and caravans taking up the spaces.

On one evening alone a staggering 45 lorries were parked along the coastbound slip road from Gravesend East, reaching almost as far as the Inn on the Lake hotel.

The issue sparked fierce debate on social media. While many supported the clampdown, others said more needed to be done to tackle the problem.

Suggestions included opening up the land formerly occupied by an Esso fuel station and Little Chef restaurant on the coastbound carriageway.

Mr Lindridge himself argued that people should consider the services truckers provide to the economy, and sympathise with those unable to find spaces in designated parking areas.

“I’m not trying to say lorry drivers are angels as a lot of them can be arrogant, but, you know, give us a break sometimes," he said.

“Drivers hate parking at places like that on the side of the road but sometimes you have no choice.

"Our tacographs are monitored daily and if we have any infringements we could lose our jobs.

“Everything in shops, schools and restaurants comes from a lorry. No lorries means no food, no drink and no shopping.”

Kent Police said at the time that it was operating a "zero-tolerance approach" to unsafe, illegal parking on hard shoulders and slips roads across the county.

Supt. Ian Hall said: "The hard shoulders are there for those vehicles that break down and are in need of assistance, and for the use of the emergency services.”