Here is a summary of the Joint Transportation Board meeting held by Ashford Council on 2 September 2025. Councillors heard updates on the EU Entry/Exit System, Operation Brock, and Ashford's bus gates, and discussed highway works and parking restrictions. The board approved the recommendation for the Ashford Housing Car Park Places Order.

EU Entry/Exit System

The Strategic Resilience Manager (KCC) provided an update on the implementation of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), scheduled to begin on 12 October 2025. The EES is a new system for registering travellers from non-EU countries, and is expected to cause significant traffic delays, particularly at the Port of Dover.

The system will be introduced in phases over six months, with full implementation expected by Easter 2026. The Strategic Resilience Manager (KCC) stated that traffic management plans were in place to handle expected congestion, and that new registration facilities were being developed at the Port of Dover.

A board member asked about the introduction of a pet passport scheme. The Strategic Resilience Manager (KCC) said he would follow up and circulate any updates with the meeting minutes.

Operation Brock

The Strategic Resilience Manager (KCC) gave a review of Operation Brock's deployment over the summer. Operation Brock is a traffic management system used to manage freight traffic in the event of disruption at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.

He explained that Operation Brock was activated on six busy weekends over the summer, managing freight queues and preventing congestion on the M20 and A20, though it sometimes resulted in long waits for drivers.

A board member asked how many hours on average Brock added onto lorry drivers' journeys, since some drivers had relayed waits of over five hours. The Strategic Resilience Manager (KCC) responded:

The average extra time was anticipated to be up to an hour, but during peak congestion particularly when tourist traffic was prioritised or technical issues arose at the port, this could be longer. Operation Brock provided a safe place for the lorries to wait without impacting on other traffic on the M20 and A20.

He added that all costs associated with Operation Brock were covered by the Department for Transport (DFT), and that there were ongoing discussions with the DFT to explore alternatives to Brock, such as additional lorry parks or technological solutions.

Ashford Bus Gates

Councillor Bernard Heyes raised concerns about the enforcement and reporting of Ashford bus gates, specifically regarding delays in receiving updates and the status of ticketing. He expressed disappointment that a report had not been provided, as this was an ongoing issue.

Councillors also expressed frustration over the lack of timely reports and updates, particularly regarding the Bluebell Road and Finberry bus gates. The Senior Highway Manager confirmed that both Ashford bus gates (Beaver Road and Bluebell Road) were operational and issuing tickets, with an initial six-month warning period.

A board member raised a specific incident where a road closure at Godinton Road forced residents to use the bus gate, raising concerns about whether tickets would be issued in that case. The Parking Team Leader advised that all tickets were issued within a certain time scale, and none had been received by residents so a suspension must have been in place for them not to proceed with enforcement whilst the road was closed. Councillors requested further evidence that residents were not being unfairly fined when forced to use bus gates due to road closures.

Highway Works Programme Update

The board discussed the Highway Works Programme Update Report.

Delays in the handover of Discovery Drive and Rutledge Avenue were highlighted, with members expressing concern that residents were left without clarity on completion timelines. Issues were also raised regarding the need for KCC to apply pressure on developers to complete outstanding works, particularly in Bridgefield and Kingsnorth, with requests for improved communication and accountability. The Senior Highways Manager agreed to liaise with the development control team to obtain updates and report back to Councillors with the latest information.

A board member asked for an update on the reopening of Chilmington Green Road and the A28 Ashford Road junction, noting confusion among residents due to inconsistent traffic orders and ongoing works.

No update had yet been provided for the petition discussed at the meeting in March, relating to speed management on Church Road in Mersham.

Councillors noted that several HIPs-related safety projects were not reflected in the Highways Works Programme and requested that HIPs be made a standing agenda item.

A board member raised concerns about the absence of cycleway projects in the works programme, highlighting the need for better tracking, transparency, and prioritisation of safety and cycling infrastructure.

A further progress update on the fund of £54 million that had been assigned for Highway improvements on potholes was requested.

Parking and Waiting Restrictions Update

The Technical and Transport Officer for ABC was present to answer questions regarding the Parking and Waiting Restrictions Update.

The board agreed with the recommendation for the Ashford Housing Car Park Places Order to be advanced.

Several pages of the parking and waiting restrictions report were blank due to a printing error.

A board member advocated for the installation of more fast charging points in Ashford, particularly to support taxi drivers and encourage the transition to electric vehicles.

A request was made for a report on the re-introduction of high-speed trains stopping in Ashford, specifically Eurostar and other operators.

Information on KCC's plans regarding the Bus Service Bill going through parliament and the potential for council-operated bus services was also requested.

Highway Works Programme

The board received the Highway Works Programme Update Report for 2024/25 and 2025/26. The report detailed various schemes, including:

• Road, Footway & Cycleway Renewal and Preservation Schemes
• Drainage Repairs & Improvements
• Street Lighting
• Transportation and Safety Schemes
• Developer Funded Works
• Bridge Works
• Traffic Systems
• Combined Members Grant – Member Highway Fund
• Road Markings
• Street Works

Road, Footway and Cycleway Renewal and Preservation Schemes

The report included a list of road asset renewal schemes. Faversham Road is programmed for 18 November 2025, High Street in Tenterden is programmed for 3 October 2025, and West Cross in Tenterden is programmed for 29 September 2025.

The report also included a list of road asset preservation schemes.

Drainage Repairs and Improvements

The report included a list of drainage repairs and improvements. Works programmed for September 2025 include Charing Heath Road and Bush Lane.

Street Lighting Column Replacement

The report included a list of street lighting column replacements. Works programmed for completion by the end of October 2025 include Woodchurch Road, Maidstone Road, Rolvenden Road, Hythe Road, and Godington Road.

Transportation and Safety Schemes

The Road Safety and Active Travel Team is implementing schemes within the Ashford District, in order to meet Kent County Council's strategic targets.

Casualty reduction measures have been identified to address a known history of personal injury crashes.

Developer Funded Works

The report included a list of developer funded works.

Bridge Works

The report included a list of bridge works.

Traffic Systems

The report included a list of traffic systems.

Road Markings

The report included a list of road markings.

Street Works

The report included a list of street works.

Parking and Waiting Restrictions

The board received an update on parking and waiting restrictions.

Lining Work

General lining work took place between 26 to 28 August and 1 to 2 September 2025, including:

• Relining faded markings.
• Installing new disabled persons parking bays.
• Removing obsolete bays.

Electric Vehicle Charge Point Usage

Usage of Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCPs) continues to steadily rise.

Stour Centre – Parking Machines

Two new touchscreen parking machines have been installed in the Stour Centre reception. Gym members can now scan their membership card to automatically receive their four-hour free parking session.

Ellingham Car Parks

A consultation to add two areas of Ashford Borough Council land to the Off-Street Traffic Regulation Order, aimed at ensuring safe parking on the Ellingham Industrial Estate, concluded on 13 August 2025 with no objections.

• Ellingham A will become a 23-hour time-limited car park with allocated spaces for tenants.
• Ellingham B will remain a permit-holder-only car park.

Ashford Borough Council – Housing Traffic Regulation Order

Implementation of the scheme approved at the last Joint Transportation Board meeting is underway. This will bring enforcement of housing car parks in-house. Resident registration for free permits to begin September–October 2025.