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 We avoid travel on Facebook Share We avoid travel on Twitter Share We avoid travel on Linkedin Email We avoid travel link

    We avoid travel

    by Coxheath lady, over 2 years ago

    When Op Brock is in place we avoid travelling on the M20 and surrounding roads as much as possible due to the excessive amount of time it now takes to get anywhere in the south east. Therefore we are no longer visiting any of the Kent attractions that we would previously have spent a day off at. My husband has to travel on the M20 to work and back and what used to be a half hour journey can now take up to three hours.

  • Share No longer travel Eastwards on Facebook Share No longer travel Eastwards on Twitter Share No longer travel Eastwards on Linkedin Email No longer travel Eastwards link

    No longer travel Eastwards

    by Gavin193c , over 2 years ago
    On a couple of occasions have been caught up in delays due to collisions on the main roads east. Even on a motorcycle the main junctions and roundabouts gridlocked will lorries and nobody willing to give way. The speed limits on the A20 only apply to UK registered vehicles so non UK lorries bomb down the outside lanes with impunity, then we get collisions!! Why can‘t these non-UK vehicles be stopped leaving the UK before handing out fines??
  • Share Can I go out today? on Facebook Share Can I go out today? on Twitter Share Can I go out today? on Linkedin Email Can I go out today? link

    Can I go out today?

    by Pink, over 2 years ago
    Operation Brock cause me so many problems. It’s only possible to buy a few essentials in my village of Harrietsham and that can be very expensive to use our local corner shop on a long term basis. It is necessary for me and everyone living in my village to use a car bus etc to visit other supermarkets and shops this is not possible when the M20 is blocked. The A20 is usually at a standstill and simple journey of one junction on the motorway or a few miles on the A29 can take hours. I can’t even get my... Continue reading
  • Share Spoiling Quality of Life on Facebook Share Spoiling Quality of Life on Twitter Share Spoiling Quality of Life on Linkedin Email Spoiling Quality of Life link

    Spoiling Quality of Life

    by Blue Steve, over 2 years ago
    I'm retired and used to enjoy an afternoon out on he coast in the east of the county. With Operation Brock it's just not worth all the hassle. It's about time this government did something to benefit the taxpayers of this country instead of messing everything up!
  • Share OPERATION BROCK on Facebook Share OPERATION BROCK on Twitter Share OPERATION BROCK on Linkedin Email OPERATION BROCK link

    OPERATION BROCK

    by PROF DUMBLEDORE, over 2 years ago

    OPERATION BROCK COCKUP

    WELL, WHERE DO WE START NO MATTER WHICH ROAD U TAKE TOWARDS DOVER IT IS FULL OF LORRIES TRYING TO JUMP THE QUE. THERE IS NO VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF THEM BEING TURNED BACK WHY ???

    ALSO, THE PEOPLE OF MAIDSTONE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA HAVE HAD ENOUGH IF WE GO ANYWHERE TOWARDS DOVER +1 HR ON YOUR JOURNEY

    I HAVE A SOLUTION USE ONE LANE OF THE M25 IT WON'T MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO THE M25 AS ITS A CAR PARK ANY WAY WHICH WOULD THEN LEVITATE THE PROBLEM FOR KENT

  • Share Long journey on Facebook Share Long journey on Twitter Share Long journey on Linkedin Email Long journey link

    Long journey

    by BobFage, over 2 years ago
    I am a power wheelchair user 24/7/365 and I needed repairs from the NHS wheelchair repair depot in Ashford. I live in Coxheath, so I join the motorway at Maidstone and then crawl and crawl along until I come of at junction 10A... doubled my journey time. It is always having an effect in Coxheath with delays going towards the motorway if you go out via the villages and if you enter the motorway in Maidstone we already know it is slow going. Very poor system in place.
  • Share Constant traffic on Facebook Share Constant traffic on Twitter Share Constant traffic on Linkedin Email Constant traffic link

    Constant traffic

    by Kerfuffle, over 2 years ago
    I live in Harrietsham and Operation Block is an absolute nightmare for those of us living along the A20 diversion route. Many of the lorry drivers not understand how to get back onto the M20 after coming off an Junction 8, I see at least one potential accident each time I use that roundabout.

    Also there are constant queues on the A20, this is very frustrating for those of us that live along the A20, trying to get to and from work, or just trying to live a normal life. Many of the drivers try and take short cuts again... Continue reading

  • Share Utterly predictable on Facebook Share Utterly predictable on Twitter Share Utterly predictable on Linkedin Email Utterly predictable link

    Utterly predictable

    by Realist, over 2 years ago
    It of course affects the whole region in a very negative way and is hell for the truckers too.

    All of the negative impacts imaginable have transpired, as per the many other comments.

    If you replace an already busy crossing point that was, for decades, subject to the most minimal checks on commercial and recreational traffic, with an international border control situation... what else would you expect? Pie in the sky, have your cake and eat it dreamland to think it would pan out any other way.

  • Share Operation Brock chaos for local residents on Facebook Share Operation Brock chaos for local residents on Twitter Share Operation Brock chaos for local residents on Linkedin Email Operation Brock chaos for local residents link

    Operation Brock chaos for local residents

    by Jane Woods, over 2 years ago

    Long term solution is needed. The corner of Kent can be at a standstill! A20 is gridlocked.

    Heavy use of lorries on A20 is dangerous.

    I live in a small country lane which is used as a speed track from M2 to A20 to avoid traffic. Local people feel trapped in their home as they cannot get out.

  • Share M20 on Facebook Share M20 on Twitter Share M20 on Linkedin Email M20 link

    M20

    by Susie, over 2 years ago
    We have been regular visitors to Hythe and have not been there for weeks due to the M20 and Operation Brock, living in a village we experience on a regular basis traffic issues getting to M20 whether it be a water main in Leeds village where constantly heavy lorries try to get through. or roadworks no infrastructure has been put in place with all the new builds along the Sutton Road no thought has been put into this at all.

    Why has nobody thought about solving the traffic problems on M20 when delays at ferry and tunnel its not as... Continue reading