Campaigners hoping to reduce the number of heavy lorries on Kent's roads are accusing Kent Highways of dodging the issue.

The highways authority is checking which roads are appearing on satellite navigation systems despite being unsuitable for HGVs.

But Cllr John Wilson, chairman of TRAMP (the South West Maidstone Traffic Management Partnership) says other counties are ahead of Kent in addressing the problem.

Cllr Wilson said: “Coming up with the sat nav idea is just a diversion, a way of looking as if they are doing something without getting on with the real job.”

He said Gloucestershire and Leicestershire had established HGV routes which caused the least damage and intrusion into rural areas.

Cllr Wilson (Con), who is also chairman of East Farleigh Parish Council and Maidstone council ward member for Coxheath, said TRAMP'S pleas to the highways authority to try a similar scheme were being ignored.

He said: “We are just stone-walled.

“It’s not as though we are demanding they implement the scheme – obviously they would want to test it in a trial area – but we cannot even get them to discuss it.”