Like many of you, I’ve been stuck in traffic because of Operation Brock on the M20.
It puts huge pressure across the road network in Kent and I know HGVs try to avoid the queue by rat-running on roads like the A20 and A251. Brenley corner also faces massive problems when Operation Brock is deployed.
I’ve been pushing the Government for a national solution to it for some time now and I’m pleased they’re building on the work started under the previous government.
This month the Minister for Roads told me they’re exploring long-term alternatives to Operation Brock, specifically a system that uses new technology and off-road sites to hold HGVs.
The Minister also said the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will now be rolled out over time – something I pushed hard on. The technology simply wasn’t ready when it was due to launch, and I feared resulting queues at Dover and Operation Brock deployed again. I am pleased the Minister says they’re considering different contingency options for EES to avoid disruption, including off-road pre-departure sites for passenger traffic.
Lastly, I was pleased to see the provisional £45 million grant to support Dover’s port capacity. I am hopeful that this will take some pressure off our roads. You can scroll down to see the Government’s full letter to me.
I’ve asked for a meeting with the Minister for Roads to get more detail on the long-term alternative to Operation Brock which they’re exploring, and confirmation that Dover will get that grant. I will also push Kent & Medway Resilience Forum to deploy "Mini Brock" (starting half way between junctions 7 and 8 on the M20 rather than at junction 8) as an alternative to Operation Brock in the short-term. I know residents in Bearsted are keen for this.
Blocking up Kent's roads isn’t fair on local residents or businesses. We need to treat this as a UK-wide issue rather than a Kent one, and find a solution which doesn’t bring our roads to a standstill every time there’s disruption at the ports.
