Operation Brock lifted after busy summer getaway

Cross channel bookings were at the highest levels they have been for a number of years, a combination of holidaymakers and people heading to the Paris Olympics and Paralympics from the Port of Dover and Le Shuttle.

However, the combination of Operation Brock and Dover TAP on the A20, which enables the slow-release of lorries down to the port, has had an impact, as has a permit system which has been trialled for freight drivers by the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF).

The pass is handed out at the Brock barrier on the M20. No permit means no entry to the port and a lengthy and costly return to the back of the queue. This has helped to improve compliance, with lorry drivers not wanting to run the risk of trying to bypass the system by using local roads to reach the port.

Dover TAP has been activated on 22 occasions since Operation Brock was installed for the 2024 summer getaway overnight on 10 July, and Operation Brock has gone into the control phase, to hold and slow filter trucks to the Port of Dover and Le Shuttle, nine times between 12 July and 12 August.

The effective traffic management system has ensured that the east-bound Round Hill tunnel at Folkestone has stayed open since the start of the getaway (this needs to be closed for safety reasons if the freight queue is likely to extend into the tunnel) and traffic management at Brenley Corner was able to be removed.

The Operation Brock contraflow will be lifted overnight Sunday 1 September into Monday 2 September. A section of the motorway will be closed with diversions in place until the motorway returns to standard two-way traffic.

KMRF Tactical Lead Toby Howe said: “We have had an excellent team from across the KMRF partnership, including the emergency services, district councils, ports and government agencies, working hard throughout the summer to ensure any issues have been quickly identified and dealt with, helping to keep the road network moving and our east Kent communities protected.

“There were some really busy traffic days during July and August, but Brock and TAP, the main tools currently available to us, have served to do their jobs really effectively.

“We have constantly monitored the traffic forecasts from the Port of Dover and Le Shuttle throughout the summer, and promised that we would remove Brock as soon as the risk of disruption had passed. We’re able to do that this weekend.

“There have been some tweaks to the traffic management plan in Dover town after we met with a residents’ association who told us they were having to take a long diversion to get home. We will continue those conversations and evolve our approach, at all times balancing keeping people safe with allowing the efficient flow of local traffic.

“We now look ahead to the challenges before us with the EU’s new Entry Exit System (EES), due to be introduced in November, and are working with the Department for Transport, the Home Office, the Port of Dover and Le Shuttle to understand what the additional biometric checks at the border will mean for travellers and how we will need to manage the road network. We will continue to work with government to find a permanent solution to replace Brock and TAP to mitigate the impact on the county of Kent.

“As always, we want to say a big thank you to residents, businesses, tourists and hauliers for their patience, understanding and input during this incredibly busy time over the summer.”

If you are planning to travel to the Port of Dover or Le Shuttle over the next few weeks, it is still wise to plan ahead and check with your operator before you set off.