Operation Stack

Operation Stack is implemented whenever there is an urgent need to inhibit the flow of traffic to the Channel Tunnel and the Port of Dover, which handle 90% of freight traffic between the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. There are officially only 550 parking spaces for HGVs in Kent, so if access to cross-channel services is restricted, congestion would quickly spread across the county.

The most common causes of Operation Stack are severe weather that either cancels or restricts ferry services, industrial action at the French ports of Calais, Dunkirk, and Boulogne, and electrical failures in the Channel Tunnel.

File:Operation Stack map.jpg

The M20 is the main road from the London Orbital Motorway (the M25), the world's largest and busiest ring road,{{cite book|title=Reading the Everyday|first=Joe|last=Moran|date=16 November 2005|publisher=Routledge|page=95|isbn=978-1-134-37216-4}} to the Port of Dover, the busiest ferry terminal in Europe,{{cite web|url=http://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/119828/port-of-dover-is-busiest-ferry-port-in-europe/|title=Port of Dover is Busiest Ferry Port in Europe|work=World Maritime News|date=2 April 2014|access-date=22 July 2015}} and the Channel Tunnel. It runs south-east from the M25 near Swanley through Kent via the county town Maidstone, Ashford, and Folkestone to Dover. Most of the road is three lanes in each direction as far Folkestone, then two lanes to Dover.{{cite web|url=http://www.ciht.org.uk/motorway/m20londfolk.htm|title=M20 - London to Folkestone|work=The Motorway Archive|publisher=Chartered Institute of Highway Engineers|access-date=22 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024210811/http://www.ciht.org.uk/motorway/m20londfolk.htm|archive-date=24 October 2014}}

Lorries are parked on the carriageways as below, with all other traffic diverted onto the parallel A20 road:

• Phase 1: Coast-bound from Junction 11 (Hythe) to 12 (Cheriton),{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4370199.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |title=French Strike hits Dover services |date=22 March 2005 | access-date=3 January 2010}} {{convert|3.6|mi|km|1}}
• Phase 2: Coast-bound from Junction 8 (Maidstone) to 9 (Ashford), {{convert|13.5|mi|km|1}}
• Phase 3: London-bound from Junction 9 (Ashford) to 8 (Maidstone), {{convert|13.5|mi|km|1}}
• Phase 4: Coast-bound from Junction 8 (Maidstone) to 12 (Cheriton),{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/KCCpressdesk/status/616244730725302272 |publisher=Kent County Council | title=Phase 4 is the closure of the coastbound M20 between J8 & J12, in addition to the current London bound closure of M20 J9 – J8. | access-date=7 January 2015}} {{convert|26.5|mi|km|1}}

If congestion reaches from Junction 8 to Junction 11 ({{convert|22.9|mi|km|1}}), traffic for the Port of Dover is diverted to Manston Airfield while traffic for the Channel Tunnel remains on the M20.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kent.police.uk/advice/operation-stack/|title=Operation Stack|website=Kent Police|language=en|access-date=2018-07-19|archive-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233503/https://www.kent.police.uk/advice/operation-stack/|url-status=dead}}

By stacking lorries along the motorway, up to 3,000 additional parking spaces for freight can be created. The decision to implement each phase of the programme is taken in conjunction with Kent Police, the Port of Dover, and National Highways. Local traffic often uses the parallel A20 (the old turnpike road from Maidstone to Folkestone) or the A2 (the historic Roman Road from London to Dover via Canterbury), though neither offers the same capacity as the M20.{{cite news|url=http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/essential_guide_to_operation_stack_1_3924803|title=Essential Guide to Operation Stack|work=Kent News|date=30 June 2015|access-date=22 July 2015}}

The road can be closed for days at a time,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4323381.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |title=Police call off Operation Stack |date=6 March 2005 |access-date=1 January 2008}} and as a result Operation Stack has been controversial.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4359789.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |title=Call for Operation Stack to end |date=18 March 2005 |access-date=1 January 2008}}

Operation Stack was first introduced in February 1988, because of a strike called by the National Union of Seamen in Folkestone Docks, which was then an important ferry terminal, that began on 31 January. Though the strike stopped after three days, there was still a tailback and local protests and struggle between Folkestone and Dover. The whole of the M20 between Ashford and Folkestone was closed; at the time, the motorway was incomplete between junctions 8 at Leeds Castle and 9 at Ashford.{{cite news|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/all-you-ever-needed-to-30614/|title=Operation Stack: How a seamen's strike led to the introduction of the M20 'lorry park'|first=Sam|last=Lennon|work=Kent Online|date=22 January 2015|access-date=22 July 2015}}

In 1999, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Transport Keith Hill commissioned a study by the Channel Road transport Group to look at alternatives.{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/2000/nov/07/operation-stack|title=Operation Stack|work=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|date=7 November 2000|access-date=22 July 2015}} The following year, Michael Howard asked Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions John Prescott about alternative methods to Operation Stack. Prescott replied that he would investigate matters but defended the status quo, saying "Management schemes can make traffic flows much better, and they are almost inevitable in difficult circumstances."{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/2000/jul/20/transport-ten-year-plan|title=Transport Ten Year Plan|work=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)|date=20 July 2000|access-date=22 July 2015}}

In early 2005, Kent Police implemented Operation Stack several times within a few weeks due to bad weather (snow), a strike and a damaged berth in Calais, which limited the number of ferries which could cross the channel. By the end of June 2005, Operation Stack was implemented a total of 18 times in the first half of the year and cost Kent Police £123,000 in overtime.{{cite news|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/costs-for-operation-stack-mounti-a18743/|title=Costs for Operation Stack mounting up|work=Kent Online|date=9 June 2005|access-date=22 July 2015}}

At the end of January 2007, local Members of Parliament Damian Green of Ashford and Stephen Ladyman of Thanet were involved in a debate covering Operation Stack in the House of Commons. Everyone agreed that stacking was a problem, but there were no firm decisions as to any alternatives.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6322631.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |title= Operation Stack raised in Commons |date=1 February 2007 |access-date=1 January 2008}}

On 5 March 2008 industrial action that had begun in late February by French workers operating SeaFrance cross-channel ferries resulted in Kent Police initiating phase 2 of Operation Stack.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7278699.stm |title=Ferry action brings M20 closures |work=BBC News |date=5 March 2008 | access-date=3 January 2010}} The industrial action lasted for a number of days, with the backlog on the M20 causing significant disruption. The MEP for South East England, Richard Ashworth, and the leader of Kent County Council, Paul Carter, urged French president Nicolas Sarkozy to step in and resolve the dispute because of the resulting difficulties.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7280854.stm |title=Protest to Sarkozy over M20 chaos |work=BBC News |date=6 March 2008 | access-date=3 January 2010}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7285140.stm |title=MEP seeks to resolve ferry strike |work=BBC News |date=8 March 2008 | access-date=3 January 2010}} This was the first time in the 20-year history of Operation Stack that the M20 was closed for more than three days; businesses in nearby towns reported trade down by up to 50%.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7284155.stm |title=Police in appeal over M20 chaos |work=BBC News |date=7 March 2008 | access-date=3 January 2010}}

According to Kent Police logs, one, two, or three phases of Operation Stack were implemented for at least part of each day between 28 February and 15 March 2008.{{Cite web|url = http://www.kent.police.uk/about_us/foi/archive_responses/op/attachments/100305.pdf|title = Response to Freedom of Information Request Received 15 March 2010|access-date = 12 August 2014|website = Kent Police|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140812205659/http://www.kent.police.uk/about_us/foi/archive_responses/op/attachments/100305.pdf|archive-date = 12 August 2014|url-status = dead}} The Freight Transport Association estimated the cost of disruption to be between £4m-£5m at 9 March 2008.{{Cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7286105.stm|title = M20 chaos ends after Stack lifted|date = 9 March 2008|work = BBC News|access-date = 12 August 2014}} Kent County Council later announced progress with plans to construct a lorry park for temporary use to mitigate the effects of Operation Stack. This has met with opposition from the borough councilor for Saxon Shore ward where it would be sited; he accused the county council of "not thinking strategically", not considering the environmental impact properly, and of siting it too close to a National Grid facility, where he expects the fuel in vehicles to be a danger to a "facility of strategic national importance."{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7292248.stm |title=Plans for M20 lorry park revealed |work=BBC News |date=12 March 2008 | access-date=3 January 2010}}

On 24 June 2015, Operation Stack was implemented due to industrial action taken by French employees of the MyFerryLink company, as a result of disagreements regarding the imminent takeover of the company by DFDS. This has been the first ever incident which has seen the implementation of Phase 4 of Operation Stack, which involves closing the M20 from Junctions 9 to 11 coast-bound, meaning that continent-bound HGV traffic was stacked all the way from Junction 8 at Hollingbourne, southeast of Maidstone, to Junction 12 at Cheriton, near Folkestone. Operation Stack began to be removed from 3 July onwards, with more than 30 miles of parked HGVs needing to be cleared. The cost to the United Kingdom economy was estimated at around £250 million.{{cite news|last1=Gupta|first1=Tanya|title=How do you solve a problem like Operation Stack?|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-33415361|access-date=9 July 2015|work=BBC News|date=9 July 2015}}

Over 4,600 HGVs were eventually cleared from the M20 by 4 July, however soon afterwards Phase 2 was implemented again for Eurotunnel freight traffic, due to over 150 migrants storming the Calais tunnel portal. This was as a result of the ongoing migrant crisis in Calais. The incident demonstrated that insufficient organisation and security at Eurotunnel, and port facilities throughout Calais was present to keep the desperate migrants under foot.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-33398633|title=Eurotunnel increases security over migrant activity|work=BBC News|date=4 July 2015|access-date=22 July 2015}} Operation Stack resumed later during the month. Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe complained the problem was too large for Kent County Council to deal with and met with the Home Secretary, Theresa May for discussion.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-33619110|title=Kent M20 Operation Stack: Government 'should take lead'|work=BBC News|date=22 July 2015|access-date=22 July 2015}}

In December 2020, France closed its borders with the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic due to concerns about the spread of a new variant of coronavirus.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55391289 |title=Covid-19: Boris Johnson to chair emergency meeting amid travel bans |work=BBC News |date=21 December 2020 | access-date=21 December 2020}} This caused major disruptions in ferry and Eurotunnel train traffic.{{Cite web|last=Shaw|first=Neil|date=2020-12-21|title=Operation Stack activated turning M20 to car park as ports closed|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/operation-stack-activated-turning-m20-19494997|access-date=2020-12-21|website=WalesOnline|language=en}}

{{Main|Operation Brock}}

On 28 October 2019, the Operation Brock traffic management plan became live. Operation Brock, in effect supersedes Operation Stack as a contingency allowing the M20 to be kept "open in both directions for all other traffic, minimising any impacts on local residents, businesses and public services".{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/kent-roads-ready-for-brexit-as-hauliers-gear-up-for-31-october | title=Kent roads ready for Brexit as hauliers gear up for 31 October }} Work began in May 2018 on this scheme managed by National Highways (then Highways England), originally designed as a temporary solution to manage lorry queueing and traffic flow at the Port of Dover after Brexit.[https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/nao-warns-considerable-infrastructure-work-needed-at-uk-border/10033321.article New Civil Engineer: NAO warns 'considerable' infrastructure work needed at UK border]

In September 2018, National Highways (then Highways England) revealed in a freedom of information request that "Operation Brock, the code name for the management of freight in a no-deal scenario, would not be automatic and would require steel barriers to make a planned contraflow system on the M20 safe for ordinary vehicles" and that "£30m has been allocated to cover the design, build and initial operation of the scheme for up to six months."[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/28/uk-no-deal-brexit-lorry-traffic-plan-could-leave-kent-in-chaos-for-14-days Guardian: "Brexit lorry scheme would leave Kent in chaos for weeks".]

As of March 2022, Operation Brock remains the traffic management plan for the Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel. National Highways says, "the Operation Brock contraflow system is designed to keep traffic on the M20 and other roads in Kent moving when there is disruption to travel across the English Channel".{{cite web | url=https://nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/operation-brock/ | title=Operation Brock - National Highways | date=8 July 2021 }}

Several other options have been considered:

• Parking the lorries on the Kent County Showground at Detling has been discussed by Highways England, but locals are opposed because the area is very congested.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4546991.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |title=Showground considered for lorries |date=14 May 2005 |access-date=1 January 2008}}
• In 2005, the Dover Harbour Board unveiled a plan to create a lorry park for 1,500 vehicles{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4423882.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |title=Lorry park plan for Channel port |date=10 November 2005 |access-date=1 January 2008}} with construction beginning in 2006.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4787318.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |title=Port to build four ferry berths |date= 9 March 2006 | access-date= 1 March 2010}}
• In February 2007, it was revealed that Kent County Council had been talking to landowners about buying land for a lorry park.{{cite news |url=http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2007/02/01/125577/kent-moves-on-bid-for-permanent-parking.html |work=Roadtransport.com |publisher=Reed Business Information Limited |title=Kent looks at permanent site for Operation Stack |date=1 February 2007 |access-date=1 January 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• There has been a suggestion from Folkestone and Hythe District Council for a lorry park to the north-east of the roundabout at Junction 11, which would be supported by development in the Stanford and Lympne areas.{{cite web |url=http://www.kent.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3D89E3FD-9F74-4012-9478-02FC8E8119FF/0/oct05item4.pdf|publisher=Kent County Council |title=Cabinet Committee Minutes October 2005 |date=24 October 2005 |access-date=25 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308134750/http://www.kent.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3D89E3FD-9F74-4012-9478-02FC8E8119FF/0/oct05item4.pdf |archive-date=8 March 2007 |url-status=dead }}
• A coned contraflow system has been trialled on the {{convert|10.5|mi|km|1}} section between Ashford and Maidstone, to relieve the pressure on the A20, but it was costly and slow to arrange, taking two days to set up and two days to remove.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4377493.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |title=Changes to Operation Stack system |date=24 March 2005 |access-date=1 January 2008}} Highways England have announced a plan to use quick movable barriers{{cite web

|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/14117.aspx |publisher=Highways Agency |title=Quick Moveable Barrier (QMB) Machine |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/14117.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2012}}{{cite news

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6236088.stm |work=BBC News |title=Barrier to solve Operation Stack | access-date = 14 March 2008 | date=25 June 2007}} to set up a contraflow so that two lanes can be maintained.{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/newsroom.aspx?newsid=18190164 |title=QMB to improve Operation Stack |access-date=2007-06-25 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927223424/http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/newsroom.aspx?newsid=18190164 |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}, Highways Agency

• Use of part of the car park at Ebbsfleet International railway station to temporarily park/queue up to 1,000 lorries
• In July 2016 the Department for Transport announced that a new lorry park for 3,600 vehicles was to be built to the north of junction 11 of the M20, with new access from the eastbound motorway between junctions 10 and 11 at Stanford West, with completion expected by Summer 2017. However, in November 2017 the Department announced that "environmental obligations" had delayed this option and, instead, a linear lorry park along the centre of the M20, separated by traffic barriers, was under consideration.{{cite news|title=Operation Stack: 'Disneyland-sized' lorry park to be built at Standford West|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-36723359|access-date=6 July 2016|work=BBC News|date=6 July 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Travis|first1=Alan|title=Ministers warned about repeat of Dover lorry queues after Brexit|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/16/ministers-warned-about-repeat-of-dover-lorry-queues-after-brexit|access-date=16 November 2017|work=The Guardian|date=16 November 2017|page=13}}
• Manston Airport is under consideration as an overflow lorry park, with a convoy of lorries testing the feasibility of the {{convert|20|mile|adj=on}} route to Dover along the A256 on 7 January 2019.{{cite news |title=Brexit: Manston Airport to host lorry park trial |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-46758849 |work=BBC News |date=4 January 2019 |access-date=4 January 2019}}

When the port of Felixstowe is closed, lorries are parked on the old A45 at Levington. They used to be parked on the A14 but this was deemed to be too dangerous for other road users.{{cite web |url=http://www.portoffelixstowe.co.uk/haulier%5Cdocuments%5COperation%20Stack/OperationStackEnglish.pdf|title=Operation Stack |access-date=15 September 2008}} This is implemented when winds exceed {{convert|45|mph|km/h}} as the cranes cannot be operated due to Health and Safety regulations.{{cite web |url=http://www.felixstowetv.co.uk/news.php?extend.211 |publisher=Felixstow TV |title=Port Prepared For More High Winds |date=6 December 2006 |access-date=25 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928110612/http://www.felixstowetv.co.uk/news.php?extend.211 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}

When the ports of Cairnryan and Stranraer are closed, lorries are parked on the closed A751.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite news |url=http://www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/travelling-around-kent/operation-stack |publisher=Kent County Council |title=Operation Stack information | access-date=25 July 2015}}
• {{cite news |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/18923.aspx |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/18923.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 August 2012 |publisher=Highways Agency |title=Highways Agency description of Operation Stack |date=14 April 2009 | access-date=11 February 2009}}
• {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4276777.stm |work=BBC News |title=Port delays hold up M20 lorries |date=18 February 2005| access-date=3 January 2010}}
• {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4309477.stm |work=BBC News |title=Snow brings Operation Stack back |date=1 March 2005 | access-date=3 January 2010}}
• {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6194278.stm |work=BBC News |title=M20 backlog due to Calais strike |date=29 November 2006 | access-date=3 January 2010}}
• {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6211558.stm |work=BBC News |title=Lorry backlog closes part of M20 |date=5 December 2006 | access-date=3 January 2010}}
• {{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7289970.stm |work=BBC News |title=Operation Stack returns near port |date=11 March 2008 | access-date=3 January 2010}}
• {{cite news |url=http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/French-strike-mean-Op-Stack/article-901095-detail/article.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505070926/http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/news/French-strike-mean-Op-Stack/article-901095-detail/article.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 May 2013 |publisher=This is Kent |title=Operation Stack in place as French strike |date=14 April 2009 }}
• {{cite news |url=http://www.monserat-properties.co.uk/our-proposal.html |publisher=Monserat Properties |title=Proposed new Junction 10b and Lorry Park |date=13 August 2009}}
• [http://www.cbrd.co.uk/articles/operation-stack/ Operation Stack] - Chris' British Road Directory

Stack

Category:Consequences of Brexit

Category:Transport in the Borough of Ashford

Category:Transport in Folkestone and Hythe

Category:Transport in Kent

Category:Port of Dover, Kent

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