Tell about your experiences of Operation Brock

We want to hear about your experiences of Operation Brock and understand the impact it has on your life. 

Share your story

Thank you for sharing your story with us.
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  • Share M2 - Business closure on Facebook Share M2 - Business closure on X (formerly Twitter) Share M2 - Business closure on Linkedin Email M2 - Business closure link

    M2 - Business closure

    by martin simpson, about 4 years ago

    The block is having a marked contributing factor to my business to and from Dover /Maidstone. One business employed 18 part-time staff and it became to frustrating and un-viable to manage. We were finally refused furlough in Covid, which closed the business.

    We could consider a second development company business at a second location in Dover. The M2 ques and reduced speed is a factor in valuating the logistics of a new business.

    Removing the speed restrictions will be enough to free up the economy. The motorway is not designed for a lorry park and has no facilities. I would... Continue reading

    The block is having a marked contributing factor to my business to and from Dover /Maidstone. One business employed 18 part-time staff and it became to frustrating and un-viable to manage. We were finally refused furlough in Covid, which closed the business.

    We could consider a second development company business at a second location in Dover. The M2 ques and reduced speed is a factor in valuating the logistics of a new business.

    Removing the speed restrictions will be enough to free up the economy. The motorway is not designed for a lorry park and has no facilities. I would be happy to see this permanently removed.

  • Share Operation Brock a nightmare for residents on Facebook Share Operation Brock a nightmare for residents on X (formerly Twitter) Share Operation Brock a nightmare for residents on Linkedin Email Operation Brock a nightmare for residents link

    Operation Brock a nightmare for residents

    by Jmac, about 4 years ago
    For anyone living along the A20 between junction 8 and 9 I live in Harrietsham my bungalow faces the A20 so when operation Brock is on all the motorway traffic is passing my property the noise all day and night is horrible not to mention the pollution and during the day it's difficult to drive out of our close and then even more difficult to get back home so the sooner they get rid of operation Brock the better.
    For anyone living along the A20 between junction 8 and 9 I live in Harrietsham my bungalow faces the A20 so when operation Brock is on all the motorway traffic is passing my property the noise all day and night is horrible not to mention the pollution and during the day it's difficult to drive out of our close and then even more difficult to get back home so the sooner they get rid of operation Brock the better.
  • Share We need a solution on Facebook Share We need a solution on X (formerly Twitter) Share We need a solution on Linkedin Email We need a solution link

    We need a solution

    by Susan Ann Harman, about 4 years ago
    We live in Hollingbourne, and the impact it has if you want to go out,into town etc, is terrible, the traffic blocks the roundabout by the Great Danes, even though it says keep clear, on several occasions we have nearly been hit, the volume of traffic coming through these villages is really bad, there has got to be a better solution to this.
    We live in Hollingbourne, and the impact it has if you want to go out,into town etc, is terrible, the traffic blocks the roundabout by the Great Danes, even though it says keep clear, on several occasions we have nearly been hit, the volume of traffic coming through these villages is really bad, there has got to be a better solution to this.
  • Share Mr. on Facebook Share Mr. on X (formerly Twitter) Share Mr. on Linkedin Email Mr. link

    Mr.

    by craneson, about 4 years ago
    This situation has been running badly now for too many years. Manston airport sits virtually empty and has enormous capacity with facilities. Whilst elsewhere but much closer to the M20, lies Detling airdrome site, once again, enormous and easily serviced.

    This would be the least disruptive to residents local and distant.

    Why does it take so long to see the obvious?

    This situation has been running badly now for too many years. Manston airport sits virtually empty and has enormous capacity with facilities. Whilst elsewhere but much closer to the M20, lies Detling airdrome site, once again, enormous and easily serviced.

    This would be the least disruptive to residents local and distant.

    Why does it take so long to see the obvious?

  • Share Nightmare on Facebook Share Nightmare on X (formerly Twitter) Share Nightmare on Linkedin Email Nightmare link

    Nightmare

    by darrensgone, about 4 years ago
    I live in Bearsted, just off jct 7 of the M20. It is a living nightmare around Bearsted and surrounding areas when Op Brock is active. It's not great the rest of the time but with children to get to clubs it is nigh on impossible with Brock. I try and go to the gym but as that is down the a20 then that is also hard to get to. I also befriend for a charity and the person lives in Ashford and looks forward to my visits. With Brock I have had to cancel at is impossible to get... Continue reading
    I live in Bearsted, just off jct 7 of the M20. It is a living nightmare around Bearsted and surrounding areas when Op Brock is active. It's not great the rest of the time but with children to get to clubs it is nigh on impossible with Brock. I try and go to the gym but as that is down the a20 then that is also hard to get to. I also befriend for a charity and the person lives in Ashford and looks forward to my visits. With Brock I have had to cancel at is impossible to get there which has caused a great deal of heartache for the lad.


    We also have articulated lorries going through Bearsted and as there is a railway bridge which is lower than their lorry they then have to try to reverse up the road and into a side road causing even more delays.

    Its a nightmare and one that has been going ion for too long with no end in site for the misery of Kent people that pay a lot for council tax. Sort it out MBC/KCC/Government.

  • Share Right or wrong move?! on Facebook Share Right or wrong move?! on X (formerly Twitter) Share Right or wrong move?! on Linkedin Email Right or wrong move?! link

    Right or wrong move?!

    by Sharon Saunders, about 4 years ago

    We moved to Lenham last year and unfortunately did not even consider Operation Brock! However, the traffic implications have been huge.

    The volume of traffic using the A20 past Harrietsham and Lenham increases hugely when Brock is in place! It is ruining the small villages and making travel difficult. You have to plan days out as cannot go towards certain places if Brock is on, can lose whole mornings/afternoons sitting in traffic! And lorries are just parking up anywhere ruining what is supposed to be The Garden of England!

    Our motorway should be opened up and suitable lorry parks opened... Continue reading

    We moved to Lenham last year and unfortunately did not even consider Operation Brock! However, the traffic implications have been huge.

    The volume of traffic using the A20 past Harrietsham and Lenham increases hugely when Brock is in place! It is ruining the small villages and making travel difficult. You have to plan days out as cannot go towards certain places if Brock is on, can lose whole mornings/afternoons sitting in traffic! And lorries are just parking up anywhere ruining what is supposed to be The Garden of England!

    Our motorway should be opened up and suitable lorry parks opened up such as the one at J10 which SHOULD be used to it’s max! Waste of money that was!













  • Share Can't get out of village on Facebook Share Can't get out of village on X (formerly Twitter) Share Can't get out of village on Linkedin Email Can't get out of village link

    Can't get out of village

    by Peter, about 4 years ago
    Operation Brock means a huge increase in traffic on the A20, going East. Consequently, when I am trying to get anywhere from Hollingbourne, I have to queue at the bottom of Eyhorne Street whilst we wait for a gap in the stream of traffic coming from the right. Councillor Burton is absolutely right in his comments. It is ludicrous to use a major motorway as a car park. Just another example of 'broken Britain'. What isn't the lorry park at Semingford J10 in use? What a waste of money.
    Operation Brock means a huge increase in traffic on the A20, going East. Consequently, when I am trying to get anywhere from Hollingbourne, I have to queue at the bottom of Eyhorne Street whilst we wait for a gap in the stream of traffic coming from the right. Councillor Burton is absolutely right in his comments. It is ludicrous to use a major motorway as a car park. Just another example of 'broken Britain'. What isn't the lorry park at Semingford J10 in use? What a waste of money.
  • Share It's going to get worse - No body is listening !! on Facebook Share It's going to get worse - No body is listening !! on X (formerly Twitter) Share It's going to get worse - No body is listening !! on Linkedin Email It's going to get worse - No body is listening !! link

    It's going to get worse - No body is listening !!

    by Robert Sinclair, about 4 years ago

    The theory behind operation Brock was a short-term panic solution to BREXIT.

    We are In the next stage - the long-term solution, and this has not been considered because there will be congestion until Dover gets its act together or the Port Facility is moved to a better location. Rail will not work because most of the journeys are too short.

    The short-term solution will cause environmental damage, increase congestion, and ruin local people’s lives.

    The A20 cannot cope with the increase in traffic. We are back to the 60s when the HGVs were smaller. The M20 was built to... Continue reading

    The theory behind operation Brock was a short-term panic solution to BREXIT.

    We are In the next stage - the long-term solution, and this has not been considered because there will be congestion until Dover gets its act together or the Port Facility is moved to a better location. Rail will not work because most of the journeys are too short.

    The short-term solution will cause environmental damage, increase congestion, and ruin local people’s lives.

    The A20 cannot cope with the increase in traffic. We are back to the 60s when the HGVs were smaller. The M20 was built to divert traffic/bypass the local neighbourhoods. KCC needs to get its act together and investigate what needs to be done. This matter needs to be raised at the local plan Inquiry more forcefully than last time. This matter was raised as a mitigation matter in respect of Woodcut Farm, but nothing will be done. Hopefully, MBC will focus on the failure of the A20 and what needs to be done if KCC can’t.

    We need action before our lives are ruined by the collective failure of the Government, KCC & MBC. We know what needs to be done

  • Share Very difficult for residents on Facebook Share Very difficult for residents on X (formerly Twitter) Share Very difficult for residents on Linkedin Email Very difficult for residents link

    Very difficult for residents

    by Alex, about 4 years ago

    Operation Broc is impacting negatively on residents lives

    It increases the amount of traffic on th A20 including heavy lorries, makes it difficult to join the A20.

    Cars are using the narrow lanes off the A20 to miss the jams and this makes the journeys more dangerous.

    The utilities still carry on with road works. putting road closures on the roads off the A20 which creates more traffic on residential areas with less roads. there should be better thought to when the closures are scheduled.

    Some examples: Charing, Leeds Road, Chegworth Road, Fairboune Lane, Hollingboune Greenway Court Road. All... Continue reading

    Operation Broc is impacting negatively on residents lives

    It increases the amount of traffic on th A20 including heavy lorries, makes it difficult to join the A20.

    Cars are using the narrow lanes off the A20 to miss the jams and this makes the journeys more dangerous.

    The utilities still carry on with road works. putting road closures on the roads off the A20 which creates more traffic on residential areas with less roads. there should be better thought to when the closures are scheduled.

    Some examples: Charing, Leeds Road, Chegworth Road, Fairboune Lane, Hollingboune Greenway Court Road. All are narrow Lanes off the A20, that get congested and impossible to get home.

  • Share It's the unpredictability that's worst on Facebook Share It's the unpredictability that's worst on X (formerly Twitter) Share It's the unpredictability that's worst on Linkedin Email It's the unpredictability that's worst link

    It's the unpredictability that's worst

    by GMIB, about 4 years ago

    When Op Brock is running, there seems to be no consideration for the impact on the A20 and the narrow lanes in Kent. We have seen the village of Lenham gridlocked from the A20 junction back to Platts Heath. You have to think twice about even driving to Ashford, let alone Hythe or Folkestone. You never know how long a simple drive into Maidstone will take.

    When Op Brock is running, there seems to be no consideration for the impact on the A20 and the narrow lanes in Kent. We have seen the village of Lenham gridlocked from the A20 junction back to Platts Heath. You have to think twice about even driving to Ashford, let alone Hythe or Folkestone. You never know how long a simple drive into Maidstone will take.