Up to 1,000 lorries have been queuing on the M20

Councillor Gordon Cowan said residents were not happy about the disruption, but were aware that because Dover is a "gateway to Europe", problems were inevitable.

He told BBC News Online: "It is very difficult to quantify the kinds of losses that strikes like these could cause business in Dover.

"Most people who pass through the town are using it as a port-of-call and don't stop before getting on a ferry.

"But even if only 1% of the 18 million people who use the port each year stop and do some shopping before getting on board, that represents lots of revenue for businesses."

Drivers 'hostage'

Mr Cowan said that the main problem when strikes take place is that people who arrive early for a sailing go to places like Canterbury instead.

He said: "But it is not just the passing traffic, but those local people trying to get from A to B who get caught up in the problems.

"Operation Stack"

Phase One - All coastbound traffic is directed off the M20 between junctions 11 and 12. Lorries are then allowed back on, to queue until the Port of Dover can accommodate them. Other traffic uses local routes to the port. Phase Two - When the number of lorries waiting exceeds 600, police also close junctions eight and nine, and traffic is similarly directed off the motorway, before lorries are allowed back on to the road.

"If workers are not aware disruptions like this are going on, they can very easily get delayed and spend ages trying to get to work."

The Road Haulage Association said that they often receive no warnings strikes are to take place.

A spokeswoman said: "Once again the French are holding British lorry drivers hostage, and there is nothing they can do about it."

She said that when the last strike disrupted Kent's road network, in September 2000, haulage companies were facing losses of �600 a day.

"It sounds extreme, but if strikes like this continue for any length of time there are companies who do face going out of business.

"It's terrible for those with perishable goods, because they might turn up in Europe to find they are delivering food that is useless."

Mr Cowan said there are two simple ways to improve the way a situation of this nature is managed.

He said: "The problems for Dover start right back at the Dartford Tunnel, because drivers follow signs to the town, that take them straight down the M20.

"However, there is also the A2/M2 route which lorries could use, which would take them straight to the port without having to go through the town.

"So all that needs to be changed is the signage at the tunnel."

He also explained that providing special overflow areas for lorries to use, away from the M20 itself, could ease the problems.

All authorities, including Kent Police, Dover's harbour board and Dover District Council, agree that "Operation Stack" which is the current process that swings into action, is not a cure for the problem.

A police spokeswoman added: "When you are having to deal with 600 plus lorries, all trying to get to Dover at once, we are merely having to manage a problem that is not of our making."