Tell about your experiences of Operation Brock

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  • Share A big inconvenience that affects when or where I travel to on Facebook Share A big inconvenience that affects when or where I travel to on Twitter Share A big inconvenience that affects when or where I travel to on Linkedin Email A big inconvenience that affects when or where I travel to link

    A big inconvenience that affects when or where I travel to

    by Racder98, over 3 years ago
    When I was working in Maidstone town centre as a retail manager op Brock had a big effect on trade as customers are less likely to travel into town. This was hard to explain to head office in Glasgow as they don't understand the traffic volume in Kent. Now I have stopped work it affects where I go as I am reluctant to get stuck in traffic jams and hate travelling with no hard shoulder! Several times I have had a lorry behind me travelling back to Maidstone on M20 and it's very intimidating. I now use the A20 a... Continue reading
    When I was working in Maidstone town centre as a retail manager op Brock had a big effect on trade as customers are less likely to travel into town. This was hard to explain to head office in Glasgow as they don't understand the traffic volume in Kent. Now I have stopped work it affects where I go as I am reluctant to get stuck in traffic jams and hate travelling with no hard shoulder! Several times I have had a lorry behind me travelling back to Maidstone on M20 and it's very intimidating. I now use the A20 a lot more due to this. This year has been bad what with P and O etc so I have been to Rye or hastings more than usual to avoid Brock.
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    A20 Congestion and Noise

    by Mark, over 3 years ago
    I live in Harrietsham and thankfully work from home. My wife, however, works in Maidstone. Some mornings she has to leave ridiculously early to successfully turn right onto the A20 from Hook Lane and then slowly crawl in queuing traffic all the way to the roundabouts and Junction 8 of the M20. Action, please. Operation Brock, in my opinion, causes too much traffic to overspill onto the A20 - including foreign - registered HGVs trying to bypass Brock. There are two possible solutions:
    1. Correct the single most self - damaging act of recent times and rejoin the EU; or
    2. Put... Continue reading
    I live in Harrietsham and thankfully work from home. My wife, however, works in Maidstone. Some mornings she has to leave ridiculously early to successfully turn right onto the A20 from Hook Lane and then slowly crawl in queuing traffic all the way to the roundabouts and Junction 8 of the M20. Action, please. Operation Brock, in my opinion, causes too much traffic to overspill onto the A20 - including foreign - registered HGVs trying to bypass Brock. There are two possible solutions:
    1. Correct the single most self - damaging act of recent times and rejoin the EU; or
    2. Put in place the necessary infrastructure to remove the appalling delays, perhaps this could be done by reopening Folkestone as a port, as the infrastructure to do so largely still exists?

    In the meantime, can we please have some policing of foreign-plated HGVs using the A20 as a bypass? They aren't delivering locally, they are returning to the continent. I don't blame them if they don't fear sanctions for bypassing the queues but there does need to be a deterrent or the situation will worsen.

    Rant over (retired traffic police officer, not from Kent Police).

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    Dangerous

    by Sara, over 3 years ago
    I have to use the M20 from Maidstone to Ashford when we visit our caravan for weekends. I hate using the motorway when operation brock is in place as I hate the narrow outside lane with the concrete barrier so close. I think it is very dangerous as it is to narrow to pass HGV's safely. I am always frightened of breaking down whist in the 50 mph narrow lanes. It has gone on too long
    I have to use the M20 from Maidstone to Ashford when we visit our caravan for weekends. I hate using the motorway when operation brock is in place as I hate the narrow outside lane with the concrete barrier so close. I think it is very dangerous as it is to narrow to pass HGV's safely. I am always frightened of breaking down whist in the 50 mph narrow lanes. It has gone on too long
  • Share Lovely & quiet on Facebook Share Lovely & quiet on Twitter Share Lovely & quiet on Linkedin Email Lovely & quiet link

    Lovely & quiet

    by LizM, over 3 years ago
    Operation Brock makes it lovely and quiet at our house. I love it - as long as I don't have to go anywhere. Obviously it means all the other routes are gridlocked, especially the A20. Which is why is is unfathomable that MBC would even consider building a new town - 5,000 houses, plus schools, shops & offices - at Lenham Heath. All these extra vehicles would have to use the A20, too. The other local roads are mainly single-track and entirely unsuitable for any extra traffic. Even now, if Op Brock or similar schemes push the traffic off the... Continue reading
    Operation Brock makes it lovely and quiet at our house. I love it - as long as I don't have to go anywhere. Obviously it means all the other routes are gridlocked, especially the A20. Which is why is is unfathomable that MBC would even consider building a new town - 5,000 houses, plus schools, shops & offices - at Lenham Heath. All these extra vehicles would have to use the A20, too. The other local roads are mainly single-track and entirely unsuitable for any extra traffic. Even now, if Op Brock or similar schemes push the traffic off the M20, any problems on the A20 (road works, crashes, breakdowns) mean an influx of vehicle trying to find a way round the blockage, using Lenham Heath Road and other back ways. This is unsustainable and damaging to hedgerows, banks, verges and animals, not to mention walkers and cyclists who take their lives in their hands while going about their daily business.

    Massive investment in rail freight and diverting sea freight away from Dover to Thames ports & further up country are the only options I can see. If Manston does open as a freight hub, onward travel should be by rail or air, not on the already over-busy Kent roads. However, I do feel sorry for lorry drivers, who have to comply with all sorts of hours limitations yet have nowhere to stop easily or cheaply.

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    Endless Traffic

    by Caroline, over 3 years ago
    Living in Bearsted, near the Bell Pub. Traffic at the Next M20 junction is appealing with traffic trying to access M20. At times, it is gridlocked.
    Living in Bearsted, near the Bell Pub. Traffic at the Next M20 junction is appealing with traffic trying to access M20. At times, it is gridlocked.
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    Gridlock

    by MIKEP25, over 3 years ago
    When op Brock is in place there is no point in trying to leave Kingswood as the A20 and all surrounding roads will be gridlocked. It is impossible to reach the Doctors or Dentists at Kenyan without taking a detour. Invariably the Leeds road will be closed with HGVs then using and blocking Broomfield Lane.

    Whilst it may be possible to take a longer route to Maidstone returning will take up to 90 minutes instead of the usual 20.

    When op Brock is in place there is no point in trying to leave Kingswood as the A20 and all surrounding roads will be gridlocked. It is impossible to reach the Doctors or Dentists at Kenyan without taking a detour. Invariably the Leeds road will be closed with HGVs then using and blocking Broomfield Lane.

    Whilst it may be possible to take a longer route to Maidstone returning will take up to 90 minutes instead of the usual 20.

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    JonH

    by JonH, over 3 years ago

    Three members of my family commute most days from Harrietsham using the A20. When Op Brock is in place journey times that normally take 10 - 20mins can easily take 1 - 2 hours. This has happened many times during 2022. The local bus service is also impacted which has affected our daughter's journey to school in Maidstone.

    Looking at the bigger picture, part of the answer is to encourage people to make better use of our train service - not normally affected by Brock. This could be achieved in part by improving the service - perhaps more frequent trains... Continue reading

    Three members of my family commute most days from Harrietsham using the A20. When Op Brock is in place journey times that normally take 10 - 20mins can easily take 1 - 2 hours. This has happened many times during 2022. The local bus service is also impacted which has affected our daughter's journey to school in Maidstone.

    Looking at the bigger picture, part of the answer is to encourage people to make better use of our train service - not normally affected by Brock. This could be achieved in part by improving the service - perhaps more frequent trains? And also to keep Lenham station, rather than replace it with a new one away from the village. Would it even be possible to create a connection from the local line to the high speed line near Hollingbourne, where the two lines cross, so that local services could run much more quickly into London?

  • Share Getting Into Maidstone. on Facebook Share Getting Into Maidstone. on Twitter Share Getting Into Maidstone. on Linkedin Email Getting Into Maidstone. link

    Getting Into Maidstone.

    by Baffled, over 3 years ago
    I very rarely use the M20 towards the coast but Operation Brock has a continual impact on the A20 trying to get into Maidstone.

    Along with Operation Brock, plus the ever increasing road closures and diversions in the Bearsted and East Maidstone areas, this has considerable impact on the A20 Ashford road into and out of Maidstone.

    Alas Kent is no longer the "Garden of England" but Spaghetti Junction to Europe.

    I very rarely use the M20 towards the coast but Operation Brock has a continual impact on the A20 trying to get into Maidstone.

    Along with Operation Brock, plus the ever increasing road closures and diversions in the Bearsted and East Maidstone areas, this has considerable impact on the A20 Ashford road into and out of Maidstone.

    Alas Kent is no longer the "Garden of England" but Spaghetti Junction to Europe.

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    Feed up to the teeth with Operation Brock

    by Cozza, over 3 years ago

    We have endured traffic chaos for years I am sick of not knowing if I can venture out on the roads or whether I shall end up with bumper to bumper traffic I am delayed both in and out of Maidstone always roadworks or accidents I have written to my MP who totally agrees that Operation Brock should be replaced with a sustainable replacement.

    We have endured traffic chaos for years I am sick of not knowing if I can venture out on the roads or whether I shall end up with bumper to bumper traffic I am delayed both in and out of Maidstone always roadworks or accidents I have written to my MP who totally agrees that Operation Brock should be replaced with a sustainable replacement.

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    Op Brock

    by Jean, over 3 years ago
    The system is the best option however the traffic cannot cope with this system


    if there is an accident then the longest part of the m20 becomes gridlocked


    The system is the best option however the traffic cannot cope with this system


    if there is an accident then the longest part of the m20 becomes gridlocked