How does Operation Brock impact you?

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Consultation has concluded.

View of M20 during Operation Brock

Cllr David Burton, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council:

“The implementation of Operation Brock causes significant disruption to residents and businesses of Maidstone. We know that it is needed as part of the current plan to manage the volume of both freight and tourist traffic using the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel when queues build up. This can occur for a variety of reasons. The number of occasions when Op Brock is in place and the impact for our community, businesses and people travelling to and around the borough are unacceptable. This situation cannot be allowed to continue.

We need your help to build the case for change. So we want to hear from you about the impacts that you experience when Op Brock is in place – for your personal lives and working lives – so that we can build a picture of environmental, social and economic impacts.

Operation Brock is not a long term or permanent solution for the border control issues. We cannot tolerate this becoming the “new normal”.

So we also need to look at alterative solutions. We would also like to hear your views on this.

My personal view is that there needs to be sufficient off road lorry parking in the vicinity of the ports and this would help manage some occasions with high freight and tourist traffic queues. I know that others suggest a scheme to hold vehicles further up country and I will not rule this out although there would be operational challenges to how this would work and be enforced. Technology has enabled us to work productively throughout the pandemic in many walks of life – technology could also offers solutions to these challenges.

We want Maidstone to be a Borough that works for everyone, with residents and local businesses at the heart of our decision making and would really like to hear from you about how this disruption has impacted on your lives and ideas for alternative ways forward, so that I can take this evidence to Government to demand action to prevent this from going on forever."

How can you get involved?

1. Experiences - Share your experiences of Operation Brock. We want to know more how Operation Brock impacts on you, your life, your local area or your business. Tell us about your experiences (below). We encourage you to comment on the posts left by other residents whose experiences you may share.

2. Ideas - Tell us your ideas about what can be done to improve the effect Operation Brock has on you, your life, your local area or your business when it is in operation.

3. Impact - Take part in our quick poll (on the right) to tell us what level of impact Operation Brock has had on you.

4. Location - Use our map to show us where in the borough you've experienced issues due to Operation Brock.

What Next

We will be gathering this information up until 2 October 2022, this timeframe may be extended based on the response or to gather further information and feedback.

Cllr David Burton, Leader of Maidstone Borough Council:

“The implementation of Operation Brock causes significant disruption to residents and businesses of Maidstone. We know that it is needed as part of the current plan to manage the volume of both freight and tourist traffic using the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel when queues build up. This can occur for a variety of reasons. The number of occasions when Op Brock is in place and the impact for our community, businesses and people travelling to and around the borough are unacceptable. This situation cannot be allowed to continue.

We need your help to build the case for change. So we want to hear from you about the impacts that you experience when Op Brock is in place – for your personal lives and working lives – so that we can build a picture of environmental, social and economic impacts.

Operation Brock is not a long term or permanent solution for the border control issues. We cannot tolerate this becoming the “new normal”.

So we also need to look at alterative solutions. We would also like to hear your views on this.

My personal view is that there needs to be sufficient off road lorry parking in the vicinity of the ports and this would help manage some occasions with high freight and tourist traffic queues. I know that others suggest a scheme to hold vehicles further up country and I will not rule this out although there would be operational challenges to how this would work and be enforced. Technology has enabled us to work productively throughout the pandemic in many walks of life – technology could also offers solutions to these challenges.

We want Maidstone to be a Borough that works for everyone, with residents and local businesses at the heart of our decision making and would really like to hear from you about how this disruption has impacted on your lives and ideas for alternative ways forward, so that I can take this evidence to Government to demand action to prevent this from going on forever."

How can you get involved?

1. Experiences - Share your experiences of Operation Brock. We want to know more how Operation Brock impacts on you, your life, your local area or your business. Tell us about your experiences (below). We encourage you to comment on the posts left by other residents whose experiences you may share.

2. Ideas - Tell us your ideas about what can be done to improve the effect Operation Brock has on you, your life, your local area or your business when it is in operation.

3. Impact - Take part in our quick poll (on the right) to tell us what level of impact Operation Brock has had on you.

4. Location - Use our map to show us where in the borough you've experienced issues due to Operation Brock.

What Next

We will be gathering this information up until 2 October 2022, this timeframe may be extended based on the response or to gather further information and feedback.

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 Not again on Facebook Share Not again on Twitter Share Not again on Linkedin Email Not again link

    Not again

    by Tovil rural resident, over 2 years ago
    Trying to get in and out of Maidstone is slow at most popular times but Operation Brock makes it a case of diminishing returns. I have turned off the A20 on occasions having been made to use it along with everyone else. I have had important meetings with friends from Dover aborted. Luckily, I am no longer at work in NHS community care. That could cut our number of visits a day from 6 to 3 in the Maidstone area. It gave no time to do notes in the car before setting off again and ended up still doing them... Continue reading
  • Share Travelling for work, missing out on family on Facebook Share Travelling for work, missing out on family on Twitter Share Travelling for work, missing out on family on Linkedin Email Travelling for work, missing out on family link

    Travelling for work, missing out on family

    by NM, over 2 years ago

    I travel from Ashford to Maidstone at least twice a week for work, if not more frequently. My husband also works in Maidstone and comes in at least once a week as well. Between the both of us I cannot even say how long we have spent in traffic, delays or at reduced speed limits due to Op Brock. At this stage, its been almost since we moved to Ashford, and that was over 5 years ago.

    The frustration I have extends to the continued works/improvements, and lack of information from Highways England/KCC on why further works are needed, why... Continue reading

  • Share M20 closed coast bound for cars/vans/local traffic on Facebook Share M20 closed coast bound for cars/vans/local traffic on Twitter Share M20 closed coast bound for cars/vans/local traffic on Linkedin Email M20 closed coast bound for cars/vans/local traffic link

    M20 closed coast bound for cars/vans/local traffic

    by Russell, over 2 years ago
    I understand at the moment they only have the M20 Coast bound carrigeway between junction 8 and 9 to stack HGVs waiting for the tunnel or ferry, and thats fair enough, a massive lorry park is never going to be built, as no one will want that on their doorstep.

    However the other cariageway should always remain open to cars/vans/local traffic, with 2 lanes for each direction, even if its 50mph. Not sure how this would work at junction 8, separting French bound HGVs, and cars/local traffic, but maybe a second on/off slip road just for this purpose at junction... Continue reading

  • Share Trapped in our own home on Facebook Share Trapped in our own home on Twitter Share Trapped in our own home on Linkedin Email Trapped in our own home link

    Trapped in our own home

    by Frustrated, over 2 years ago

    When the m20 is closed for operation Brock, the tail back affects traffic right back to the a249 junction. This impacts on the a20 as everyone tries to continue their journey.

    The tail back brings to a halt the link Route Newcut road.

    I live on Crownfields. The only way I can get off my estate is to use Newcut Road. As a community nurse I have been unable to get to my early patient,Usually diabetics who need insuline. This puts their lives at risk

  • Share Poor facilities. on Facebook Share Poor facilities. on Twitter Share Poor facilities. on Linkedin Email Poor facilities. link

    Poor facilities.

    by golfeater, over 2 years ago

    Whenever Operation Brock is instigated any idea of a trip to the seaside like Folkstone etc is put off. Also it must put people off visiting Kent.

    It appears there are never any amenities set up like food, toilets etc for anyone unlucky caught up in the chaos.

    The local road network also suffers as drivers attempt to circumnavigate the M20.

    surely the answer lies at the Dover port cannot cope at certain times, upgrading to a bigger port is the answer, i would hate to live in Dover!

  • Share Crippling kent on Facebook Share Crippling kent on Twitter Share Crippling kent on Linkedin Email Crippling kent link

    Crippling kent

    by Andrew, over 2 years ago
    Living in Ulcombe and being a mobile engineer. Operation brock is a joke. Always traffic and here's a good idea. Let put all the traffic along the a20 instead. Do these people who make these decisions actually get paid or do we recruit brainless zombies who haven't a clue........I'm sure the latter is true. All the people who live in the surrounding areas should be given a share of these zombies wages. Maybe then they might have some sort of idea what stress this is.....and not make these decisions a million miles away from the actual problem.
  • Share Activities curtailed on Facebook Share Activities curtailed on Twitter Share Activities curtailed on Linkedin Email Activities curtailed link

    Activities curtailed

    by hmt7 , over 2 years ago
    I occasionally work in Canterbury. I like to drive from Maidstone along the A20, A252 and A28, rather than using the M2 all the time. However, this is impossible during Brock. Using the M2 makes my journey a lot longer and has its own traffic issues at Stockbury and Brenley Corner in particular. I have also avoided driving to Ashford, Hythe, Lenham and Leeds Castle, all places that I like to visit occasionally.
  • Share traffic blocking surrounding roads on Facebook Share traffic blocking surrounding roads on Twitter Share traffic blocking surrounding roads on Linkedin Email traffic blocking surrounding roads link

    traffic blocking surrounding roads

    by linda, over 2 years ago
    i retired a year ago, operation brock stops me from going out visiting friends and family, I live in Maidstone all surrounding areas are full of traffic jams, I cant be bothered going out when brock is on, a depressing way of life, I'm now wanting to move
  • Share Gridlocked on Facebook Share Gridlocked on Twitter Share Gridlocked on Linkedin Email Gridlocked link

    Gridlocked

    by Jules , over 2 years ago
    Turns Maidstone roads into mayhem . The knock on effect is crazy , long tail backs and constant heavy traffic through residential roads. Puts so much extra time on travelling to work or any journeys involved .

    The motorway is scattered with bottles of urine and bags of faces , it’s unbelievable to think this is Great Britain . 😡


  • Share Catastrophic Consequences on Facebook Share Catastrophic Consequences on Twitter Share Catastrophic Consequences on Linkedin Email Catastrophic Consequences link

    Catastrophic Consequences

    by Penenden Heath Resident, over 2 years ago

    Nothing good about Brock - disgusting way to treat HGV drivers AND their business must suffer. No facilities provided for them. Villages between J 8& 9 literally marooned and visitors to hospitality facilities impacted. Inconvenience plus economic damage to all business. Personally I avoid journeying anywhere East of Maidstone for any purpose when it’s in force. PetrolPrices are expensive enough without extra cost if travelling in congestion. I have given up visiting Leeds Castle for example.