‘People should not be anxious’

The new centre is open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week, allowing residents with symptoms to access testing “extremely quickly”.

Ms Kerly said a booking system provides people with a code that is checked on site before they can drive into the testing area.

“The testing centre is self-contained with all its own facilities for the staff who will be operating the site,” she said.

“There will be additional fencing to improve security and limit the overlooking into the testing area.

“The Victoria Road Primary School head teacher has been advised of the location of the temporary facility and KCC Highways is also engaged in the operation.

“Supporting government in its programme to test and trace and support the impacts on our communities is seen as an essential part to combat this terrible crisis that the world finds itself in.”

Ms Kerly confirmed the Armyrun testing site on the Stour Centre car park will no longer operate.

She added: “There has been a mobile testing facility operating on the Stour Centre car park most weeks over a threeday period which has been run by the military.

“This testing facility will cease and will be mobilised around Kent where there is limited access to testing facilities.

“The Stour Centre car park will come back into more normal use over the next few months as high street/offices open and hence its capability as a mobile testing facility cannot be guaranteed.”

Mr Green dismissed fears over the site’s location and is urging people displaying Covid-19 symptoms - which include a persistent cough, a fever, or a change to your sense of smell or taste - to go to the new centre for testing.

He said: “I think the fact it’s a drive-through centre means the people who may well have symptoms won’t be walking past the school.

“You have to have an appointment, it’s a drive-through centre so people shouldn’t be anxious.”

The Victoria Road car park opened in February