Government tries to get Kent roads ready for congestion to and from Dover port and Eurotunnel as it continues to prepare for a ‘no-deal’ departure from the EU on 31 October – despite parliament having legislated to prevent that happening.
The UK government today announced that “the final preparations to keep Britain moving after Brexit” were taking place, with the so-called ‘Operation Brock’ plan to manage the expected truck backlogs to the UK’s Channel ports in the event of a no-deal Brexit set to “go live on 28 October, to manage any traffic disruption and help keep trade moving in and out of the UK”.
The Operation Brock traffic management preparations in Kent to keep the M20 open in both directions in the event of disruption to services across the English Channel will be accompanied by “new powers” that “will help protect local roads and ensure hauliers comply with the Operation Brock system”. As the UK government urged hauliers to check they have the right documents before travelling on 31 October.
The move comes as the UK government continues to prepare for a ‘no-deal’ departure of the UK from the EU on 31 October – despite parliament having legislated to prevent that happening.
The UK government said: “Operation Brock will go live on 28 October to manage any traffic disruption and help keep trade moving in and out of the UK. The government has worked closely with the Kent Resilience Forum to implement the scheme, which will manage any delays to Europe-bound freight while protecting local roads from disruption.
“It will keep the M20 open in both directions for all other traffic, minimising any impacts on local residents, businesses and public services. This comes as the Department for Transport launches a targeted information campaign to ensure hauliers know what to expect if they are travelling to the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel in a no-deal Brexit scenario.”
Transport Minister Chris Heaton-Harris, said: “We want residents in Kent and hauliers travelling from across the EU to be reassured that there are robust plans in place to deal with any disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit. We now need everyone to do their bit – whether you are travelling to see family, heading to work or transporting vital goods around the country, please check before you travel to ensure you know what to expect and have the right documents when heading to the border.
“Hauliers driving during Operation Brock and heading to Europe via the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel will need to be on the Operation Brock routes and follow all diversions, instructions and speed restrictions rather than relying on satellite navigation systems. They will also need to be ready to show that they have the right paperwork before reaching the border to avoid being turned back – or else risk facing fines and further delays.”
He continued: “New legislation will help keep them on main routes through Kent and away from local roads – reducing the impact of any disruption on local communities. Traffic officers in Kent will have new and enhanced powers from 31 October to help ensure hauliers are complying with the Operation Brock system.”
The department said final works in the coming weeks “will ensure that the holding areas are ready to be activated on 28 October as Operation Brock goes live”, adding: “This means that from 26-27 October there will be overnight closures on the M20 between junctions 7 and 9, so that final preparations can be carried out safely”.
Heidi Skinner, policy manager for South East England at the Freight Transport Association, said: “Any move which keeps traffic flowing to and from the coast, and through and around Kent, is to be welcomed in order to keep Britain trading. Our members have been asking for clarity on the arrangements for some time, so this news will help them to prepare for a potential no deal Brexit and any resulting traffic disruption which may occur.”
Once Operation Brock goes live on Monday 28 October, lorries heading for mainland Europe will need to use the coastbound carriageway of the M20 between junctions 8 and 9, with a 30mph speed limit in place. All other traffic will run on the London-bound carriageway between these junctions, with two lanes in each direction operating at 50mph.
In addition, Highways England is fast-tracking work to ensure that key slip roads at a new junction being created on the M20 near Ashford will be open to traffic by the 31 October, the UK government said.
The announcement comes as the UK government also announced that it has signed freight capacity contracts worth up to £86.6 million with four European ferry companies, claiming that the arrangements “will help ensure vital medicines continue to enter the UK after Brexit, whatever the circumstances”. The capacity will be delivered by Brittany Ferries, DFDS, P&O Ferries and Stena Line to provide capacity across 13 routes, operating from eight ports in England – Teesport, Hull, Killingholme, Felixstowe, Harwich, Tilbury, Portsmouth and Poole, covering cover a 6-month period from 31 October.
That is in order to ensure supply continues on the assumption that there will be significant disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit to traffic to and from the UK’s key ror-ro freight port Dover.
Port of Dover said it is as prepared as possible for the logistical challenges of Brexit, but chief executive Doug Bannister has warned that there would still be congestion and disruption. He cautioned: “That is not a 100% guarantee that there is not going to be any congestion; that would be foolish. Of course, there is going to be friction and there will be some congestion; that is a fact.
UK government estimates of a no-deal Brexit on 31 October, when the UK is scheduled to leave the European Union, suggest that the value of goods passing through the UK’s major ferry gateway would fall by around £1.2 billion per week – a 40% to 60% drop in volumes.
And, as reported last week, the UK’s second-biggest ro-ro port, Holyhead, is “absolutely not” ready for a no-deal Brexit and lacks the infrastructure needed to avoid a backlog of lorries to the key UK-Ireland road freight crossing, according to one of the Welsh port’s major freight users, Gwynedd Shipping.
Source: Lloyd’s
