Operation Brock sees lorries heading to Dover queue on one side of the M20

The government is considering introducing a scaled-back version of a traffic-holding measure for vehicles queueing to cross the English Channel.

Operation Brock, a contraflow system on the M20 coast-bound in Kent, currently runs between junction eight, near Leeds Castle, and junction nine, near Ashford.

But the Department of Transport (DfT) is looking at starting it further down the motorway to try to stop lorries cutting through nearby villages. "We recognise the impact Operation Brock has on residents, which is why we continue to work closely with the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum to improve safety, reduce local disruption, and develop longer-term traffic management solutions," a DfT spokesperson said.

Operation Brock can currently be used to park 2,000 lorries, but Brock 2 or Mini Brock, as it is being called, could see that decrease to about 1,700. The last time Operation Brock was completely full was in the summer of 2022.

Helen Whately, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, said Operation Brock was "beyond infuriating" and that she backed the push for a scaled-back version. "Brock jams up our roads when traffic grinds to a halt, lorries cut through villages, and families face delays getting to work," she said. "It was meant to be only for emergencies, now it's a regular headache."

Operation Brock is funded by the DfT, with decisions on its use made by the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum. On average, the operation costs about £250,000 each time it is deployed, a Freedom of Information request revealed.

The scheme was put in place overnight on Monday and was expected to be removed overnight on 22 December, with the motorway reopening as normal on 23 December.

The Kent and Medway Resilience Forum said if traffic started to build, drivers should check their route before setting off, allow extra time for their journey and pack their car with essentials, including food, water and medication.

In July, Kent County Council said it was looking for alternatives to Operation Brock, including an off-road lorry facility to try to ease congestion.