How does Operation Brock impact you?

Tell about your experiences of Operation Brock

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  Pointless and dangerous

  by AD, over 3 years ago
  Last Sunday around 10.00 at night taking my daughter to Ashford. There was very little traffic. At the point where operation Brock started the motorway went to a single lane and 30mph speed limit. All the traffic condensed into a slow moving queue. No apparent reason for this, misleading signage ('CHECKPOINT AHEAD'). No where to stop for a rest or if there was a breakdown. Was between two lorries the whole way. Just awful.

  Last Sunday around 10.00 at night taking my daughter to Ashford. There was very little traffic. At the point where operation Brock started the motorway went to a single lane and 30mph speed limit. All the traffic condensed into a slow moving queue. No apparent reason for this, misleading signage ('CHECKPOINT AHEAD'). No where to stop for a rest or if there was a breakdown. Was between two lorries the whole way. Just awful.
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  Childcare nightmare

  by Serena, over 3 years ago
  My parents live in Ashford, I live in a Bearsted. It seemed simple that they would help with childcare when we moved here 10years ago.

  Concern Brock there are constant, near daily accidents in the m20, especially northbound from the coast. Daily there are delays in the alternative route a20.
  we’ve had to cut back on the childcare as the stress and unreliability of the not knowing how long a simple 20 minute journey will take- frequently over an hour.

  The congestion locally is terrible. Living in our village we have lorries, trucks trying to get through small village roads... Continue reading

  My parents live in Ashford, I live in a Bearsted. It seemed simple that they would help with childcare when we moved here 10years ago.

  Concern Brock there are constant, near daily accidents in the m20, especially northbound from the coast. Daily there are delays in the alternative route a20.
  we’ve had to cut back on the childcare as the stress and unreliability of the not knowing how long a simple 20 minute journey will take- frequently over an hour.

  The congestion locally is terrible. Living in our village we have lorries, trucks trying to get through small village roads and cars frequently speeding.The impact of Brocknis making me seriously considering moving out of the area as what was once a one off is now seeming a regular occurance.

  
  
• Share Noise , Traffic & Total Inconvenience on Facebook Share Noise , Traffic & Total Inconvenience on Twitter Share Noise , Traffic & Total Inconvenience on Linkedin Email Noise , Traffic & Total Inconvenience link

  Noise , Traffic & Total Inconvenience

  by Rob , over 3 years ago
  When Brock is in place, we notice a massive increase in traffic right past our house.

  
  Cars avoiding the M20, Lorries doing the same or local lorries forced off the motorway. The extra traffic causes so much noise, as well as pollution and the thunder of lorries shakes the house (new cracks have appeared).

  On top of that, it affects my commute across Maidstone. I don't go on the M20 but invariably Brock pushes traffic onto all the other roads around town, making traffic a nightmare at times.

  And then, when you'd like to pop to the coast in the... Continue reading

  When Brock is in place, we notice a massive increase in traffic right past our house.

  
  Cars avoiding the M20, Lorries doing the same or local lorries forced off the motorway. The extra traffic causes so much noise, as well as pollution and the thunder of lorries shakes the house (new cracks have appeared).

  On top of that, it affects my commute across Maidstone. I don't go on the M20 but invariably Brock pushes traffic onto all the other roads around town, making traffic a nightmare at times.

  And then, when you'd like to pop to the coast in the summer, you have to think twice. Folkestone (a favourite) was once a quick jaunt , now an arduous drive at best. M2 traffic can make that route to Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate, Broadstairs etc an absolute lottery.

  It's clear that there will be issues for years to come, for some reason or another ; Brexit bust ups witht he French , the usual French Strikes /blockades etc, so why oh why don't the government put in a long term plan such as lorry park (Manston ?) for when this happens , instead of cutting off Kent's main artery?

  
  

  
  
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  Op Brock - Kents Unfair Burden

  by Jason.Reilly, over 3 years ago
  Op Brock has been a disaster for my work, health, and family life.

  
  

  The constant delays Brock is causing mean I have had to extend my journey times to ensure I am on time for work and appointments. Although the delays are erratic I have to try and be as consistent as possible so it is my time that is sacrificed.

  Because of Brock I have canceled, delayed, or have not been able to attend numerous appointments, connected to some health issues I have, not to mention other things like dental appointments.

  My family life has been affected most directly... Continue reading

  Op Brock has been a disaster for my work, health, and family life.

  
  

  The constant delays Brock is causing mean I have had to extend my journey times to ensure I am on time for work and appointments. Although the delays are erratic I have to try and be as consistent as possible so it is my time that is sacrificed.

  Because of Brock I have canceled, delayed, or have not been able to attend numerous appointments, connected to some health issues I have, not to mention other things like dental appointments.

  My family life has been affected most directly by having to extend what is already a long working week giving me less time with my family generally. Added to this is the frustration and anger at being late for or unable to attend a family event because I am stuck in traffic. On many of these occasions, I am looking across the motorway to see the other side of the M20 devoid of HGVs!

  This endless operation cannot be aloud to continue.
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  The whole village was isolated

  by Paul, over 3 years ago
  When the M20 is closed and turned into a car park the A20 stops moving and becomes a permanent queue of traffic from junction 8 to Lenham which results in Hollingbourne being cut of from from the rest of the county. This is exacerbated by Eyhorne street becoming an alternative route from and too Sittingbourne by traffic trying to avoid the log jam on the A249. We have not had an ederley resident die yet because of the inability to reach medical and emergency services but it is only a matter of time.

  When the M20 is closed and turned into a car park the A20 stops moving and becomes a permanent queue of traffic from junction 8 to Lenham which results in Hollingbourne being cut of from from the rest of the county. This is exacerbated by Eyhorne street becoming an alternative route from and too Sittingbourne by traffic trying to avoid the log jam on the A249. We have not had an ederley resident die yet because of the inability to reach medical and emergency services but it is only a matter of time.
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  Turned the town into a car park

  by Laura, over 3 years ago
  The town and outer lying villages are already hugely struggling with the huge amount of house and commercial building going on with no improvement to road infrastructure, add to this operation brock where the motorway is turned into a giant car park instead of a motorway that is designed to ease traffic on already overwhelmed A and B roads it brings absolute gridlock. I live on the A20 and have experienced huge tailbacks and delays just to go out to get food shopping and then attempt to get back to my house. Those in Harrietsham and Lenham are experiencing worse... Continue reading

  The town and outer lying villages are already hugely struggling with the huge amount of house and commercial building going on with no improvement to road infrastructure, add to this operation brock where the motorway is turned into a giant car park instead of a motorway that is designed to ease traffic on already overwhelmed A and B roads it brings absolute gridlock. I live on the A20 and have experienced huge tailbacks and delays just to go out to get food shopping and then attempt to get back to my house. Those in Harrietsham and Lenham are experiencing worse difficulties and it is entirely unacceptable. Local and central governments cannot continue to operate on a model of housing development but do absolutely nothing to improve road infrastructures.
• Share Impossible backlog on tiny country lanes causing accidents, damage to property and huge delays on Facebook Share Impossible backlog on tiny country lanes causing accidents, damage to property and huge delays on Twitter Share Impossible backlog on tiny country lanes causing accidents, damage to property and huge delays on Linkedin Email Impossible backlog on tiny country lanes causing accidents, damage to property and huge delays link

  Impossible backlog on tiny country lanes causing accidents, damage to property and huge delays

  by Local rural resident, over 3 years ago
  We live on a very very small rural cul-de-sac between Maidstone and Headcorn. Operation Brock begins at the junction we leave to come off main roads (near Leeds castle) onto the single track lanes to get home - there are no alternative routes and the roads are only wide enough for one car. We have started getting lorries, caravans, trucks and all sorts trying to bypass the motorway by coming via the lanes, their sat Nav doesn't tell you it's not suitable and there are no signs saying max load. We have been stuck on those lanes more and more... Continue reading

  We live on a very very small rural cul-de-sac between Maidstone and Headcorn. Operation Brock begins at the junction we leave to come off main roads (near Leeds castle) onto the single track lanes to get home - there are no alternative routes and the roads are only wide enough for one car. We have started getting lorries, caravans, trucks and all sorts trying to bypass the motorway by coming via the lanes, their sat Nav doesn't tell you it's not suitable and there are no signs saying max load. We have been stuck on those lanes more and more, we once spent 2 hours there while a lorry got stuck and no one would reverse. I see damage to properties as people drive onto their gardens to get past each other, I've seen physical fights where people lose their tempers.. I had 4 kids in my car when a lorry driver called me an "f...ING c..t" because I asked him to reverse to a layby to let us pass. I also had a van deliberately block the road for 20 minutes when I was trying to take my kids to school and he was laughing and shouting "this is so worth it" which made me cry. The impact is huge. We are late for school, late for work (I work for a Hospice), we use tonnes more diesel that we can't afford sitting in jams. The pollution us terrible and it's ruining the very reason we moved to the rural area - for a quiet and green life. This has to stop, it's shameful that the government are passing this problem onto everyday people who are helpless to improve their quality of life.
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  Stuck on 10 mtr road for 50 mins.

  by Yo, over 3 years ago
  We were caught out on the roundabout to Leeds on the M20. We were 10 meters away from going on the roundabout, but were stuck for 50 mins. It was not only awful for us, but those poor truckers had to sit another couple of hours in the heat.

  
  On top of that, some very unsocial drivers thought it necessary to drive up the left security lane and then got stuck and forced themselves in front of others that had been patiently waiting. That bit of road needs to be controlled and people need to be fined!
  
  This is just... Continue reading

  We were caught out on the roundabout to Leeds on the M20. We were 10 meters away from going on the roundabout, but were stuck for 50 mins. It was not only awful for us, but those poor truckers had to sit another couple of hours in the heat.

  
  On top of that, some very unsocial drivers thought it necessary to drive up the left security lane and then got stuck and forced themselves in front of others that had been patiently waiting. That bit of road needs to be controlled and people need to be fined!
  
  This is just not acceptable. Truckdrivers needs to be respected more and they should have proper facilities offered: showers, toilets, rest places and somewhere to eat.
  
  There must be a big parking place somewhere close to Dover for the truckers, or one needs to be build. I am sure the cost to the economy will be higher than building a overflow parking place.
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  Was meant to be temporary

  by D Merritt, over 3 years ago

  This "temporary" solution has now become a permanent fixture on the motorway causing traffic jams, increasing pollution, increasing travel times, damages peoples work life balance, can be easily be seen as a cash trap for to charge people going slightly over 50 on a motorway and is clear to see by locals and the country that it is not fit for purpose.

  I like many others have been caught in huge delays due to traffic jams as there is no hard should for broken down vehicles, this easily turns what used to be a 25 min commute into and 90... Continue reading

  This "temporary" solution has now become a permanent fixture on the motorway causing traffic jams, increasing pollution, increasing travel times, damages peoples work life balance, can be easily be seen as a cash trap for to charge people going slightly over 50 on a motorway and is clear to see by locals and the country that it is not fit for purpose.

  I like many others have been caught in huge delays due to traffic jams as there is no hard should for broken down vehicles, this easily turns what used to be a 25 min commute into and 90 min one. I have now started leaving at 7am in order to get to work on time at 8:30 as breakdowns are far to common and I like many others cannot keep turning up to work late due to the incompetence of a 'solution' that is no longer fit for purpose.

  I can't speak for others but a large amount of frustration comes from the fact that Brock was meant to temporary, yet it only gets back to normal for less than a few weeks before its back again, the time it takes to remove it is weeks and yet the installation is within hours over night. This frustrates me as again it disrupts my work, my home life, fuel consumption and the environment and it irks me that no-one has thought of a permanent solution to this blight on the M20.

  There must be some land that can be purchased or rented in order to build a sufficient lorry park in the area, all the while I drive along the M20 I see lots of unused land not being used for Agricultural means. This would then provide a safe place for the lorry divers to park, do the checks, you could even place facilities in there such as bathrooms, showers and even a place for a hot meal for the poor drivers who have reported been sat on the motorway for days at a time at its worst.

  A serious rethink of this "temporary" project needs to be had as this is not a good local for the government, local councils. Its not healthy for the local residents or lorry drivers and by finding a new solution it would vastly improve the lives of many in the South East.

  
  
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  Living nightmare

  by Shaz, over 3 years ago
  I live on the A20 in Bearsted and when brock is in place it makes life here in Maidstone awful. The amount of traffic that Speeds down this road increases, both day and during the night. Trying to go anywhere locally normally means sitting in traffic jams. Visiting family in Ashford is impossible as again your in a traffic jam. Brock certainly impacts a lot of roads in Maidstone when it is in place, congestion is just dreadful. Even though I don’t use the buses this must impact on the 10x that travels from Ashford. Lots of HGV‘s try to... Continue reading

  I live on the A20 in Bearsted and when brock is in place it makes life here in Maidstone awful. The amount of traffic that Speeds down this road increases, both day and during the night. Trying to go anywhere locally normally means sitting in traffic jams. Visiting family in Ashford is impossible as again your in a traffic jam. Brock certainly impacts a lot of roads in Maidstone when it is in place, congestion is just dreadful. Even though I don’t use the buses this must impact on the 10x that travels from Ashford. Lots of HGV‘s try to take alternative routes rather than use the M20, again they are parking up all over Kent. This makes life in Maidstone and Kent very unpleasant and you start to want to move away. I use to commute to Folkestone every day but thank goodness I took early retirement as that would have been as bad if not worse than when Brock was in previously. They need to find an alternative solution to park up lorries but it needs to be in Kent as up country will not work as they are heading to the channel crossing. Manston seems to be a possible solution.