Commons Sense

House of Commons · Petition P003095

Operation Brock

16 July 2025 to 01 September 2025

Presented 2 times by 1 MP

Transport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

This petition concerning operation brock was presented to Parliament 2 times by 1 MP.

Issue summary

The petition addresses the severe disruption caused by Operation Brock, a traffic management measure deployed regularly by Kent County Council and the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum to queue freight lorries on the M20 motorway. Residents and local businesses are concerned that this operation has been used frequently despite initial assurances it would only be employed in emergencies.

Action requested

The petitioners request that the House of Commons urge the Transport Select Committee to launch an inquiry into the decisions taken by Kent County Council and the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum to regularly deploy Operation Brock, as well as into efforts being made to find a long-term alternative solution.

Key facts

  • Regular deployment of Operation Brock causes significant disruption for residents and businesses in Ashford.
  • The operation was initially meant for emergencies but has become routine.
  • KMRF operates independently from central government but engages closely with it.
  • Recent years have seen reductions in the use of Operation Brock.
  • Improvements in traffic forecasting are being explored to reduce reliance on Operation Brock.

Presentation timeline

MPs presented this petition on the following dates. Each card shows the presenters and any recorded remarks.

  1. Presented 01 September 2025

    Sojan Joseph Lab Ashford

  2. Presented 16 July 2025

    Sojan Joseph Lab Ashford

    I rise to present a petition on behalf of my constituents, who are deeply frustrated by the regular deployment of Operation Brock. The decision by Kent county council and the Kent and Medway resilience forum to queue freight lorries on the M20 during the school holidays causes severe disruption for local residents and businesses, and is hugely expensive. My constituents do not object to Brock being deployed in emergencies, and reassurances were given that that would happen. However, it is still being regularly deployed as a precautionary measure, and it will come into force once again later this week. The petition states: “The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Transport Select Committee to launch an inquiry into the decisions taken by Kent County Council and the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum to regularly deploy Operation Brock, and into what work is being undertaken to find a long-term alternative.

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