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 Road congestion on Facebook Share Road congestion on Twitter Share Road congestion on Linkedin Email Road congestion link

    Road congestion

    by Ron Smith, over 2 years ago
    As a user of the A20 from Junction 8 to Junction 9 M2O, It is nigh on impossible to use the A20 to ashford due to vast amounts of diverted traffic. Add to that the council sees fit to implement road works at Operation Brock at its highest volume. Cannot some form of communication between relevant groups so that this can be delayed. I note that Charing is disrupted for the installation of Traffic lights. While I agree this is vital for road safety, surely this could be done during off peak summer holiday time? I note suggestions that 'lorry... Continue reading
  • Share Hideous unnecessary congestion and wasted time. on Facebook Share Hideous unnecessary congestion and wasted time. on Twitter Share Hideous unnecessary congestion and wasted time. on Linkedin Email Hideous unnecessary congestion and wasted time. link

    Hideous unnecessary congestion and wasted time.

    by MBarry, over 2 years ago
    We live in Platts Heath and use the M20 both West and East bound. Brock has caused us repeated costly delays and has placed an intolerable burden upon not just the A20, but also the local country lanes which drivers have been using in an effort to circumvent the main road congestion.
  • Share sugar loaves on Facebook Share sugar loaves on Twitter Share sugar loaves on Linkedin Email sugar loaves link

    sugar loaves

    by Sugar Loaves, over 2 years ago

    No other business outside of the NHS was hit as hard and damaged as badly as the Hospitality sector during Covid.

    Here we are still struggling to recover, if indeed we can (some may still go out of business yet) and we get hit with Brock.

    If it hadn't be out of loyalty to and from the few local drinkers that braved the traffic or lived in the village I would have closed at weekends. One Sunday afternoon I sold one bowl of chips the whole day. Lots of cancellations through-out the weeks as well.

    Ive seen nothing published about... Continue reading

  • Share We've put off too many journeys to friends in Ashford, or to visit Leeds Castle, or to visit Folkestone. on Facebook Share We've put off too many journeys to friends in Ashford, or to visit Leeds Castle, or to visit Folkestone. on Twitter Share We've put off too many journeys to friends in Ashford, or to visit Leeds Castle, or to visit Folkestone. on Linkedin Email We've put off too many journeys to friends in Ashford, or to visit Leeds Castle, or to visit Folkestone. link

    We've put off too many journeys to friends in Ashford, or to visit Leeds Castle, or to visit Folkestone.

    by Maidlady, over 2 years ago
    Twice had to abandon visit to Ashford recently because of queues on both M20 and A20. We like the seaside at Folkestone, but again that's impossible whilst Brock is o going.
  • Share Bojo & Brexit voters to blame for Kent road chaos - now he's off.... on Facebook Share Bojo & Brexit voters to blame for Kent road chaos - now he's off.... on Twitter Share Bojo & Brexit voters to blame for Kent road chaos - now he's off.... on Linkedin Email Bojo & Brexit voters to blame for Kent road chaos - now he's off.... link

    Bojo & Brexit voters to blame for Kent road chaos - now he's off....

    by No2Brexit, over 2 years ago

    Live in Maidstone. Have worked in Canterbury for over 21 years, used to commute 3 days a week. Now once a week, wfh on flexible arrangements. Knock on effect of Operation Brock on the M2 commute to Canterbury is intolerable. For some reason Canterbury City Council or Highways England (or some authority) closes one lane at Brenley Corner turn off for Canterbury (M2 Junction 7) causing 5,6,7 mile tailbacks along the M2. They're trying to syphon off HGVs back to Operation Brock on M20 and prevent HGVs from going to Dover on the A2. The impact on East Kent is... Continue reading

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

    Nightmare

    by Tina, over 2 years ago
    I live in Harrietsham so we bare the brunt of brock because of the A20. We literally get cut off from doing daily routines because we can’t easily get in or out of the village. It’s worrying because if there was a medical emergency I have no idea how we could work round that the traffic is so bad. I do not understand why Manston airport can’t be used as a overspill, it’s all there and the owners have said they’d be happy for it to be used. Something more permanent has to be done to give us all back... Continue reading
  • Share Long Term Solution Needed on Facebook Share Long Term Solution Needed on Twitter Share Long Term Solution Needed on Linkedin Email Long Term Solution Needed link

    Long Term Solution Needed

    by Brian, over 2 years ago

    We cannot go on dragging barriers on and off the M20 to implement operation Brock every time there is a surge in cross channel traffic and/or a problem with immigration and customs clearance at the port of Dover. Using the motorway as a lorry park, blocking/restricting access and diverting traffic onto the A20 is unacceptable and causes great inconvenience to local residents and their quality of life. Junctions 7 and 8 and their connecting roads are busy throughout a normal day especially during school term times, during operation Brock it is a nightmare.

    l do not know why the temporary... Continue reading

  • Share Backs Up in Bearsted on Facebook Share Backs Up in Bearsted on Twitter Share Backs Up in Bearsted on Linkedin Email Backs Up in Bearsted link

    Backs Up in Bearsted

    by GG 49, over 2 years ago

    Whenever Op Brock is in place it doesn’t take long for car and lorry drivers to try and find ways of avoiding its published impact/diversions on the M20 & A20 . This resultsin chaos in and around Maidstone , Bearsted , grove green , Aylesford , Parkwood and Leeds etc with lorries ignoring restriction signs.A 5 minute “local”journey has been known to take 30- 40 minutes.There is absolutely no point in even trying to get to Lenham ,Harrietsham etc !. The theory of Op Brock is sound but it’s implementation , particular managing non compliances is abysmal . The solution... Continue reading

  • Share Makes the difficult more difficult! on Facebook Share Makes the difficult more difficult! on Twitter Share Makes the difficult more difficult! on Linkedin Email Makes the difficult more difficult! link

    Makes the difficult more difficult!

    by Jrf, over 2 years ago
    My wife is in a lovely care home just off exit ten of the M20. Normally it takes under 20 minutes to get there but Brock adds at least 10/15 minutes each way.

    Plus the cost of petrol Since I need to go to exit 7 and double back to join the counterflow system. The counterflow system is often not in operation so I need to exit at junction 8 to go down the A20.


    it is always disturbing and make my visit more difficult.

  • Share Brexit and Brock have brought travel chaos to Kent on Facebook Share Brexit and Brock have brought travel chaos to Kent on Twitter Share Brexit and Brock have brought travel chaos to Kent on Linkedin Email Brexit and Brock have brought travel chaos to Kent link

    Brexit and Brock have brought travel chaos to Kent

    by JT, over 2 years ago

    Brexit has caused our once Continental friends in the EU to turn against the UK in as many ways as they find possible....we were held up for hours in long queues at passport control for UK passport holders at the airport in each of my 2 recent visits abroad (in the last 2 months) with the EU passport control line being completely clear. The traffic trying vainly to cross the channel by ferry or the Tunnel are being similarly held up by French passport control and Operation Brock is now succeeding in exacerbating the damage, delays and stress in everyone's... Continue reading