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 Who doesn't suffer...?? on Facebook Share Who doesn't suffer...?? on Twitter Share Who doesn't suffer...?? on Linkedin Email Who doesn't suffer...?? link

    Who doesn't suffer...??

    by CH, over 2 years ago

    I live in PH area of Maidstone & work in Ashford; my journey time & fuel consumption have dramatically increased. Every day in either direction; I get stopped by a breakdown or accident or slowed down by a wide load taking up both lanes. Some people drive under the 50mph limit (breaking when they hit the speed cameras!!) and others drive at 70mph (mainly HGV's & coaches) it really is awful to drive along. I feel for the people down the A20 so I try not to use it. I don't bother using the motorway at the weekends as I... Continue reading

  • Share Free Kent from the tyranny of Operation Brock! on Facebook Share Free Kent from the tyranny of Operation Brock! on Twitter Share Free Kent from the tyranny of Operation Brock! on Linkedin Email Free Kent from the tyranny of Operation Brock! link

    Free Kent from the tyranny of Operation Brock!

    by Peter Sullivan , over 2 years ago

    Operation Brock is a calamity, however you look at it. Local residents are facing multifaceted negatives. We are impacted upon by the traffic, which switches to local roads, in terms of pollution, cost (it takes longer to get everywhere so you are burning more fuel), unable to use our single track local roads because impacted traffic is redirected, by their SatNavs, on to roads that are not able to cope. We have huge articulated lorries trying to get up lanes that can barely cope with a transit van.
    it takes longer to get everywhere, and sometimes it is almost impossible... Continue reading

  • Share Visits to Dover on Facebook Share Visits to Dover on Twitter Share Visits to Dover on Linkedin Email Visits to Dover link

    Visits to Dover

    by Ginny Gee, over 2 years ago
    We live in Kingswood, trying to get to Dover is a nightmare. Our optician, osteopath and family are in the Dover area and planned visits to all three have had to be cancelled due to the closure of the M20 plus Operation Brock. Plus the aggravation of the hot weather we are both over 70 and can’t manage being caught up in unforeseen traffic holdups, goodness only knows how the lorry drivers cope.
  • Share Muddled management of a know problem on Facebook Share Muddled management of a know problem on Twitter Share Muddled management of a know problem on Linkedin Email Muddled management of a know problem link

    Muddled management of a know problem

    by Ron Smith, over 2 years ago

    Muddled management of a know problem, it was known in advance that the first weekend of the school holidays would be busy, but it was left to the first day of the weekend to admit there was a problem. What do we pay these people for? Running the County/Country! To add insult to injury why not have roadworks on the main diversion via the A20 at Charing on the very day it started? Der? Why not have this done during the autumn/winter. pretty simple, but no one thought of it. Oh, lets dig up all surrounding rat runs so no... Continue reading

  • Share Everyone suffers on Facebook Share Everyone suffers on Twitter Share Everyone suffers on Linkedin Email Everyone suffers link

    Everyone suffers

    by MJ, over 2 years ago
    In 2022, it is shocking that this makeshift solution of freight traffic has been allowed to go on. Up until recently, I had to travel from Maidstone to Ashford to visit my mum, and was always aghast at the drivers rubbish in the verges of the roads. Seeing large plastic bottles of urine was the norm, coupled with all sorts of other rubbish. The problem is, the drivers are not at fault, they have a job to do, like us all, but are treated like animals, with next to no facilities while they are forced to wait in these long... Continue reading
  • Share Does there even need to be a survey? This surely negatively affects any motorist from Maidstone to M20 East? on Facebook Share Does there even need to be a survey? This surely negatively affects any motorist from Maidstone to M20 East? on Twitter Share Does there even need to be a survey? This surely negatively affects any motorist from Maidstone to M20 East? on Linkedin Email Does there even need to be a survey? This surely negatively affects any motorist from Maidstone to M20 East? link

    Does there even need to be a survey? This surely negatively affects any motorist from Maidstone to M20 East?

    by Sean, over 2 years ago
    Why is the south east of Kent expected to carry this burden every month or so? It (obviously) impacts travel but also trade, quality of life, damage to roads-unlikely to be repaired promptly as well as the rubbish strewn in it's wake (unlikely to be collected). Junction 8 and all around Bearsted grinds to a halt when the A20 becomes gridlocked. How come we are so powerless?


    This cannot continue to impact Kent citizens with no future plan nor recompense to Highways Agencies and Councils.

  • Share Dangerous Contraflow on Facebook Share Dangerous Contraflow on Twitter Share Dangerous Contraflow on Linkedin Email Dangerous Contraflow link

    Dangerous Contraflow

    by Hutchmo, over 2 years ago

    I do not use the M20 when Brock is in place.

    I have found that when travelling westbound and sticking to the speed limit I am frequently harassed by a foreign truck driver inches from my rear bumper trying to force me to go faster. The truck driver knows he won't be prosecuted for speeding. This is no fun in a Fiat Panda! The resulting danger means that I choose to use the A20.

    I cannot access the M20 eastbound from junction 8 and junction 7 is out of my way, so I choose to use the A20.

    There seems... Continue reading

  • Share Brick mess on Facebook Share Brick mess on Twitter Share Brick mess on Linkedin Email Brick mess link

    Brick mess

    by Frustrated traveler , over 2 years ago
    The highways agency who are presumably responsible for Brock have decided to use the M20 motorway between junction 7 and 8 as a fly tipping area for unwanted rusty sign supports and cones if a private company did this they would be fined the garden of England is not the place for this

    I use this road daily and the closure of Junction 8 causes more grief to my than anything on my journey it is not thought out and unnecessary
    I live in south Maidstone and need to travel to Ashford regularly


  • Share Can’t carry on on Facebook Share Can’t carry on on Twitter Share Can’t carry on on Linkedin Email Can’t carry on link

    Can’t carry on

    by MrsM, over 2 years ago

    Living in Lenham and working in Maidstone this should be a 20/25 minute journey, whilst brock is on the journey (mainly home) could be anything from 40 minutes to over an hour. And MBC want to build 5000 homes at Lenham Heath adding goodness knows how many more cars to the A20! Unbelievable. KCC, MBC and highways need to realise the A20 cannot sustain the levels of traffic expected when brock is in place.

  • Share Brock - what a pain!! on Facebook Share Brock - what a pain!! on Twitter Share Brock - what a pain!! on Linkedin Email Brock - what a pain!! link

    Brock - what a pain!!

    by Steve.south@hotmail.co.uk , over 2 years ago
    We live in Maidstone. Our daughter lives in Ashford and my mother lives at Dymchurch. We visit both regularly each week and have been affected every time we make the journeys to see them by the restrictions on the M20. On one occasion Junction 8 was actually closed off on the motorway and we couldn't even get onto the A20 due to the amount of traffic. We therefore had to cancel our visit to my mum very annoyingly. I would also add a real concern for those poor lorry drivers caught up in the madness. St