Ahead of this weekend’s bank holiday in England and Wales, when experts predict up to 18 million car journeys will be completed, business group Logistics UK is calling on the government to implement a permanent solution to Operation Brock, the traffic management scheme that sees HGVs queuing on the M20 in Kent as they approach the channel crossings during peak times. The scheme is currently in operation for the summer period with significant congestion and disruption reported from freight operators and passengers alike.

“Traffic chaos can be scheduled as accurately as a cross-channel ferry timetable when Operation Brock is deployed,” says Jonathan Walker Logistics UK Head of Planning and Infrastructure Policy. “The planning and budgets that have gone into developing and deploying the scheme now need to be applied to implementing a permanent solution.

 “It is unacceptable to expect professional drivers, who are supporting the nation’s supply chain by providing consumers and businesses with the goods that they rely on every day, to tolerate being treated like second class citizens, without access to proper sanitation or refreshment facilities – we would not tolerate that sort of treatment in offices, factories or schools so why should we expect our logistics workers to put up with it? ”

Operation Brock was introduced in 2019 to address potential delays caused by border congestion predicted in the case of a “no deal” Brexit but is now introduced when coastbound traffic disruption is anticipated due to increased holiday traffic volumes, bad weather or other disruptions. The contraflow system sees HGVs destined for the cross-Channel ports held in restricted areas on one side of the M20 motorway. while other traffic uses a contraflow system on the opposing carriageway.

According to Logistics UK, reports estimate that Operation Brock cost up to £35 million to develop and a recent Freedom of Information request from the BBC revealed that deploying the scheme on 10 occasions between its introduction in 2019 and 2024 cost the taxpayer more than £2.7m.

Mr Walker explains how the congestion and delays experienced in Dover and Kent is a national issue, “Over half of all goods traded between Great Britain and mainland Europe use the Short Straits crossings between England and France and up to 16,000 freight vehicles travel through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel every day. Drivers of these vehicles are critical to the prosperity of the country and government’s growth ambitions and need to be treated with the respect they deserve, not held parked on the hard shoulder without access to a hot meal or a toilet for hours or even days on end.

“The creativity and resourcefulness that designed Operation Brock in the first place must be put into finding a permanent solution to what was expected to be a temporary problem. The inland border facility at Sevington, already developed at the taxpayer’s expense, could now be converted into a fully equipped vehicle waiting area as the proposed EU/ UK deal means additional import checks are likely to be removed.  Electronic queuing systems can be used to release vehicles at the appropriate time smoothing traffic flows around the ports and appropriate rest and refreshment facilities provided to cater for the professional drivers concerned.

 “The current situation is not sustainable, and we urge the government to work with the logistics sector to develop a solution that keeps goods moving, while minimising disruption to passengers as well as Kent residents, who have had to put up with queuing traffic for years. This solution must also ensure that HGV drivers have access to dedicated waiting areas with proper facilities - something every other worker in the country takes for granted.”