How does Operation Brock impact you?

Share How does Operation Brock impact you? on Facebook Share How does Operation Brock impact you? on Twitter Share How does Operation Brock impact you? on Linkedin Email How does Operation Brock impact you? link

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 Awful on Facebook Share Awful on Twitter Share Awful on Linkedin Email Awful link

    Awful

    by Wrighty, over 2 years ago
    My elderly father lives in Hollingbourne the surrounding areas are suffering an increase in traffic which makes visiting him a nightmare. My daughter lives in Ashford so we have to jump on a junction London bound to head back to Ashford. My son in-law has lost he’s job as he clocked up 9 points for going at 52 when foreign lorries pass as fast as they like with never being fined. It’s simply not fair on Maidstone or surrounding villages. Merely a money making exercise.
  • Share What genius.... on Facebook Share What genius.... on Twitter Share What genius.... on Linkedin Email What genius.... link

    What genius....

    by Steve, over 2 years ago
    What genius thinks it is a good idea to deny access to nineteen miles of motorway and send traffic down the A20. My wife and I were invited to a wedding in Lenham, and only learnt about this diversion at short notice. Knowing how quickly the traffic builds up through the Hollingbourne, Harrietsham and Lenham areas ( and how inversely proportionate it travels) we had to divert via the outskirts of Sittingbourne in order to arrive in time. A journey usually of twenty five minutes took an hour and ten. We were not the only guests affected. Goodness only knows... Continue reading
  • Share Gridlock on Facebook Share Gridlock on Twitter Share Gridlock on Linkedin Email Gridlock link

    Gridlock

    by Paul , over 2 years ago

    The road network around Maidstone is bad at the best of times. Journey times are extended, fuel costs rise, increase in pollution.

    Increase LGVs taking A & B roads, adding to travel times


  • Share Traffic increase on country roads on Facebook Share Traffic increase on country roads on Twitter Share Traffic increase on country roads on Linkedin Email Traffic increase on country roads link

    Traffic increase on country roads

    by Susan, Kingswood , over 2 years ago

    We have noticed a marked increase in traffic on country roads, especially speeding vans and large commercial vehicles. This, coupled with the plethora of local roadworks and diversions has made getting anywhere a complete nightmare some days.

  • Share Brock on Facebook Share Brock on Twitter Share Brock on Linkedin Email Brock link

    Brock

    by Jmoo, over 2 years ago
    Bb
  • Share Operation Brock on Facebook Share Operation Brock on Twitter Share Operation Brock on Linkedin Email Operation Brock link

    Operation Brock

    by Julie Wylie , over 2 years ago
    I live in Lenham, on Friday 22/7/22 we visited my son late afternoon in the Medway area, we left his house around 8.30pm with an expected 40min journey. No that didn’t happen and no signs up to say j8 on m20 was closed and everything was being diverted onto a20. We had just passed j7 when traffic came to a grinding halt. It took us nearly 2 hours to get home. Then all over that weekend I was working all around the Lenham area as a carer in the community and again because of operation stack my day was awful... Continue reading
  • Share Generally awful on Facebook Share Generally awful on Twitter Share Generally awful on Linkedin Email Generally awful link

    Generally awful

    by RHB, over 2 years ago

    Chaos on surrounding roads and delays on A20. Combined with the Brexit effects that we are now a so-called third country to the EU means they have to treat us as such. Means quite big delays getting to Tunnel and also back.

  • Share M20 junction 8 to 9 Open toilet on Facebook Share M20 junction 8 to 9 Open toilet on Twitter Share M20 junction 8 to 9 Open toilet on Linkedin Email M20 junction 8 to 9 Open toilet link

    M20 junction 8 to 9 Open toilet

    by SR, over 2 years ago
    It was obvious that if Brexit went ahead without any free traffic agreement with the EU in place Kent would have a major traffic problem.

    Thanks to Maidstone's two MPs the problem is here. My problems are minimal compared to others.Travel to and from Ashford has been disrupted meaning extra time has had to be allowed. The M20 between junctions 8 & 9 has become an open toilet for the unfortunate lorry drivers parked there. Helen Whately MP should have her constituency renamed to reflect that. As a taxpayer I have seen £millions given away to companies in Kent due... Continue reading

  • Share Junction 8 restrictions on Facebook Share Junction 8 restrictions on Twitter Share Junction 8 restrictions on Linkedin Email Junction 8 restrictions link

    Junction 8 restrictions

    by Bill, over 2 years ago

    Living not far from J8 of the M20 having to double back to J7 to gain access to travel east is very wasteful of my time and fuel. Alternatively one uses the A20 to Ashford causing inconvenience to those living along the route and wastes time. In both cases causing uncessary Environmental impact over permitting acces at J8.

  • Share Family visits curtailed on Facebook Share Family visits curtailed on Twitter Share Family visits curtailed on Linkedin Email Family visits curtailed link

    Family visits curtailed

    by Doreen, over 2 years ago
    When Operation Brock is in place we choose not to meet family members. After the restrictions of the Pandemic this is such a shame when the clock is ticking.