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 Huge Lorries using small roads not designed for them, Noise and Air pollution. Large increase in litter & Rubbish. on Facebook Share Huge Lorries using small roads not designed for them, Noise and Air pollution. Large increase in litter & Rubbish. on Twitter Share Huge Lorries using small roads not designed for them, Noise and Air pollution. Large increase in litter & Rubbish. on Linkedin Email Huge Lorries using small roads not designed for them, Noise and Air pollution. Large increase in litter & Rubbish. link

    Huge Lorries using small roads not designed for them, Noise and Air pollution. Large increase in litter & Rubbish.

    by Roger, over 2 years ago
    Hello. The closure of the M20 section for Operation Brock has been done purely as a consideration on where to park lorries and divert them. No consideration is given to residents in the surrounding areas. We suffer high volumes of large lories, sometimes lost, blocking and filling roads never intended for them. The noise levels are increased 24 hours a day and with it comes the air pollution. Even when stationary many of these lorries are running their engines and air conditioning units to preserve perishable cargoes. This polution is added to the air. The amounts of rubbish thrown onto... Continue reading
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    A20 Life!

    by J Eeles, over 2 years ago
    Living in Harrietsham we are on the A20 and know immediately when brock is on as the traffic starts to slowly build in long queues past our door with cars avoiding the M20.


    One of our children is at secondary school and this impacts directly on her travel.

    My husband works in construction and visits many sites from where we live and he is often caught in traffic chaos, as are his delivery vans to the site. This has a direct economical impact.

    I have clients in Maidstone and further down the coast and meeting them in person isn't an... Continue reading

  • Share Traffic chaos on Facebook Share Traffic chaos on Twitter Share Traffic chaos on Linkedin Email Traffic chaos link

    Traffic chaos

    by Ann, over 2 years ago
    As soon as Brock was in place the area around Downswood became one huge traffic jam. This coincided with school holidays and more traffic heading for Dover and beach resorts. Drivers avoiding the M20 blocked the Ashford Road (A20) in both directions. Willington St was at a standstill for much of the day and consequently local roads became congested. Added to this we have had a catalogue of road closures in this area over the last few weeks for various reasons. I haven't attempted to use the M20 since Brock has been in place so my usual visits have been... Continue reading
  • Share Maidstone is not the solution on Facebook Share Maidstone is not the solution on Twitter Share Maidstone is not the solution on Linkedin Email Maidstone is not the solution link

    Maidstone is not the solution

    by James L, over 2 years ago
    Maidstone is 42 miles from Dover. It is absolutely crazy that our town gets gridlocked to ease the traffic at the ports. We already have growing congestion issues on our roads because of all the new apartments and flats being built, so a different, more effective solution needs to be found as soon as possible.

    Sitting in self created traffic jams causing frustration and anger is only going to cause more problems.

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    Blood bike delays

    by A. Biker , over 2 years ago
    Volunteers for SERV Kent (Blood Bikes) regularly run urgent medical supplies between the Medway towns and hospitals in East Kent, specifically Ashford and Canterbury. With the M20 restricted to 50mph and in parts 30mph, it increases travel time, especially when it's backed-up. It's often quicker to take the A20 to Ashford from Maidstone and the same on the return. The M2 isn't as bad when Brock is on although I have also been delayed on that route in the past, even on a motorcycle. Many SERV volunteers use cars and the same journey by car takes much longer as a... Continue reading
  • Share Our Lives Are Put On Hold For Brock on Facebook Share Our Lives Are Put On Hold For Brock on Twitter Share Our Lives Are Put On Hold For Brock on Linkedin Email Our Lives Are Put On Hold For Brock link

    Our Lives Are Put On Hold For Brock

    by JanE, over 2 years ago

    When operation brock is implemented we simply have to put all our plans on hold. Getting from Barming to anywhere the other side of Maidstone has to be put off even though it may be an important trip. No taking grandchildren to the coast. Shopping becomes a nightmare as all the A roads in and around Maidstone get completely jammed. Anyone who uses the M20 is affected.



  • Share Frustrating. on Facebook Share Frustrating. on Twitter Share Frustrating. on Linkedin Email Frustrating. link

    Frustrating.

    by Pat.D, over 2 years ago
    As a regular user of the M20, I find it infuriating that I and thousands of other M20 users are having to put up with a situation that is not fit for purpose. The Government had seen this coming long ago and did nothing but move the problem from one place to another the M20 is a motorway, not a lorry park. A permanent solution needs to be arrived at. Having hundreds of HGV parked on a Major Motorway delaying thousands of drivers is not one of them neither is moving the traffic onto the A20 causing even bigger problems... Continue reading
  • Share No visits to the White Cliffs on Facebook Share No visits to the White Cliffs on Twitter Share No visits to the White Cliffs on Linkedin Email No visits to the White Cliffs link

    No visits to the White Cliffs

    by Donny, over 2 years ago
    Most years I enjoy frequent visits to the White Cliffs between Deal and Dover for walking and leisure. Have not attempted any in the last 6 months due to Operation Brock.
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    M20 Chaos

    by Dodger, over 2 years ago
    Simple solution is a car park for 3000 lorries with toilet & refreshment facilities. Problem solved!!

    We are also at a loss as to why they frequently close the Roundhill Tunnel which adds to the congestion significantly.

  • Share M2 - Business closure on Facebook Share M2 - Business closure on Twitter Share M2 - Business closure on Linkedin Email M2 - Business closure link

    M2 - Business closure

    by martin simpson, over 2 years ago

    The block is having a marked contributing factor to my business to and from Dover /Maidstone. One business employed 18 part-time staff and it became to frustrating and un-viable to manage. We were finally refused furlough in Covid, which closed the business.

    We could consider a second development company business at a second location in Dover. The M2 ques and reduced speed is a factor in valuating the logistics of a new business.

    Removing the speed restrictions will be enough to free up the economy. The motorway is not designed for a lorry park and has no facilities. I would... Continue reading