Tell about your experiences of Operation Brock

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  Unsatisfactory solution which causes chaos.

  by steve, almost 4 years ago
  Operation Brock is a nightmare solution for all concerned. Travelling through Kent becomes unbearable with journey times extended and gridlock on local road with people looking for rat-runs to avoid the worst of the traffic. Lorry drivers are stuck without access to food and facilities which would make the delays they experience more acceptable. The so-called Kent resilience forum is a joke, lacking answers and solutions to the problems that arise. The county has a ready-made solution at Manston where lorries can be given a scheduled slot and toilet and showering facilities can be made available.

  In the event that... Continue reading

  Operation Brock is a nightmare solution for all concerned. Travelling through Kent becomes unbearable with journey times extended and gridlock on local road with people looking for rat-runs to avoid the worst of the traffic. Lorry drivers are stuck without access to food and facilities which would make the delays they experience more acceptable. The so-called Kent resilience forum is a joke, lacking answers and solutions to the problems that arise. The county has a ready-made solution at Manston where lorries can be given a scheduled slot and toilet and showering facilities can be made available.

  In the event that Manston is not big enough, then other dedicated lorry parks need to be constructed urgently. It is essential that the main thoroughfare across the county remain open in both directions a.s.a.p.
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  Inconvenience

  by Peter Crisp, almost 4 years ago
  I travel from Maidstone to Ashford three days a week plus return.

  When operation Brock is in place all traffic is diverted onto the A20. So to ensure I get to Ashford in about 1 hr I travel via B and minor roads. Very slow and inconvenient to me and those who live on the minor roads..
  I also avoid the M20 on return as one collision blocks the road for hours. I have options returning via the A20.
  min addition there are road works on the A20 further slowing the traffic and journey time. KCC are responsible for Opening... Continue reading

  I travel from Maidstone to Ashford three days a week plus return.

  When operation Brock is in place all traffic is diverted onto the A20. So to ensure I get to Ashford in about 1 hr I travel via B and minor roads. Very slow and inconvenient to me and those who live on the minor roads..
  I also avoid the M20 on return as one collision blocks the road for hours. I have options returning via the A20.
  min addition there are road works on the A20 further slowing the traffic and journey time. KCC are responsible for Opening Notices so they can make a decision to cancel work . But they don’t just poor decision making. Why have I paid via taxes for a car and lorry park which is hidden as a motorway.

  
  

  
  
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  Traffic nightmare!

  by Lou Carpenter, almost 4 years ago
  Travelling east-west in the county is always an issue for those of us in the middle of Kent. Having the M20 delivered over to Brock has made life unbearable. First, there was all the disruption caused by preparing for Brock, then there's the ongoing problems of when it's activated. Both travelling to and returning from Folkestone a couple of weeks ago were severely impacted: coastbound we had to go through the B Road network, london bound, we had lane restrictions, limiting speed and were travelling in nose to tail traffic. What is the point of the M20 if it is... Continue reading

  Travelling east-west in the county is always an issue for those of us in the middle of Kent. Having the M20 delivered over to Brock has made life unbearable. First, there was all the disruption caused by preparing for Brock, then there's the ongoing problems of when it's activated. Both travelling to and returning from Folkestone a couple of weeks ago were severely impacted: coastbound we had to go through the B Road network, london bound, we had lane restrictions, limiting speed and were travelling in nose to tail traffic. What is the point of the M20 if it is just to be used for HGVs when it's desperately needed as our means of travel through Kent? The A20 is not viable, as this gets overloaded when Brock is on.
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  Gridlock Kent

  by KB , almost 4 years ago
  Although I understand the need to manage traffic during busy times I struggle to understand how shutting the M20 is the solution. Why take Brock down to put it back a few weeks later, what a waste of money, are the planners feathering their own nests? The impact on my life is not acceptable, living in the M20 area is a travel nightmare, short journeys can take hours and cause so much car pollution to the environment.

  Although I understand the need to manage traffic during busy times I struggle to understand how shutting the M20 is the solution. Why take Brock down to put it back a few weeks later, what a waste of money, are the planners feathering their own nests? The impact on my life is not acceptable, living in the M20 area is a travel nightmare, short journeys can take hours and cause so much car pollution to the environment.
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  Kent has become a lorry car park

  by Lyn Fuller, almost 4 years ago

  Living in a rural area near the M20 and operation brock had become a travelling nightmare. Trying to drive to the next village which normally takes a couple of minutes can now be one impossible due to the amount of cars now travelling along the back roads trying to circumnavigate the holds up on the A20, because the M20 is used as a lorry car par. Why on earth are lorries allowed to enter kent if their exit out is blocked! Kent seems to be getting the ‘bum deal’ on pretty much everything lately. Gone has the title ‘garden of... Continue reading

  Living in a rural area near the M20 and operation brock had become a travelling nightmare. Trying to drive to the next village which normally takes a couple of minutes can now be one impossible due to the amount of cars now travelling along the back roads trying to circumnavigate the holds up on the A20, because the M20 is used as a lorry car par. Why on earth are lorries allowed to enter kent if their exit out is blocked! Kent seems to be getting the ‘bum deal’ on pretty much everything lately. Gone has the title ‘garden of England’. Can’t wait for the industrial site to open at junction 8 of the M20, life will get a whole lot worse, especially if your trying to drive around for essentials.

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  Chaos for local people

  by AG, almost 4 years ago
  I have to drive my daughter to and back from Bearsted to Folkestone where she works as a primary teacher (she cannot drive due to a medical condition). I have been caught in huge traffic jams and the journey has been longer as a result of Brock. This has been a huge inconvenience. It seems the national government are not interested in the people of Kent as they know they have rock solid safe seats here! Also aware of foreign HGV's not following the rules and going down M20 between 8 and 9 and the A20. On numerous occasions I... Continue reading

  I have to drive my daughter to and back from Bearsted to Folkestone where she works as a primary teacher (she cannot drive due to a medical condition). I have been caught in huge traffic jams and the journey has been longer as a result of Brock. This has been a huge inconvenience. It seems the national government are not interested in the people of Kent as they know they have rock solid safe seats here! Also aware of foreign HGV's not following the rules and going down M20 between 8 and 9 and the A20. On numerous occasions I have been following the speed limit only to have a foreign lorry drive aggressively behind only inches from my bumper. The police seem to not be bothered. The foreign lorries are not concerned about the speed limit as they appear not to be prosecuted.
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  Local economy hit hard

  by ColinM, almost 4 years ago
  At its worst, when the M20 is queueing Brock causes drivers to seek alternative routes through unsuitable narrow lanes, often in larger vehicles. Living in such a road we often encounter drivers who are unused to these, in a hurry because they've been delayed and often lost. Our own road has no passing places other than our driveways which are being damaged because of this, as are the verges.

  When we visit Faversham, the problems at Brenley corner caused by HGVs being stopped and turned round result in the town coming to a standstill.

  The net result is that we... Continue reading

  At its worst, when the M20 is queueing Brock causes drivers to seek alternative routes through unsuitable narrow lanes, often in larger vehicles. Living in such a road we often encounter drivers who are unused to these, in a hurry because they've been delayed and often lost. Our own road has no passing places other than our driveways which are being damaged because of this, as are the verges.

  When we visit Faversham, the problems at Brenley corner caused by HGVs being stopped and turned round result in the town coming to a standstill.

  The net result is that we will not visit Faversham, Canterbury, Ashford or Maidstone because of the delays encountered. Instead we shop online so our spend goes out of the county (and often out of the country).
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  Harrietsham

  by Harrietsham Resident, almost 4 years ago

  I live on the Ashford Road in Harrietsham. When Operation Brock is in place, more traffic flows down the A20 Ashford Road than normal - especially lorries who I assume are trying to "jump the queue". This is made worse when the coast bound carriageway of the M20 is closed altogether.

  Because of the increased traffic flow, it takes long to leave my property, whether going east or west, and much longer to travel east towards Lenham, Charing and Ashford.

  Please would MBC push for a designated lorry park, with full facilities, rather than using the M20 as such.

  I live on the Ashford Road in Harrietsham. When Operation Brock is in place, more traffic flows down the A20 Ashford Road than normal - especially lorries who I assume are trying to "jump the queue". This is made worse when the coast bound carriageway of the M20 is closed altogether.

  Because of the increased traffic flow, it takes long to leave my property, whether going east or west, and much longer to travel east towards Lenham, Charing and Ashford.

  Please would MBC push for a designated lorry park, with full facilities, rather than using the M20 as such.