Closure of motorway slip roads ‘putting lives at risk’

Three slip roads leading onto the M20 remain closed - even though the motorway has reopened following the French border chaos.

Highways England is keeping the coastbound on-slips between Junction 9 for Ashford and Junction 11 for Hythe shut for the “foreseeable future”.

It says the move will “support Operation Brock”, but it has led to bewilderment among drivers who now have to use the A20 when heading from Ashford to Folkestone.

Motorists living in Ashford can currently only access the coastbound M20 from the junctions north of the town – the closest being Junction 8 for Leeds Castle.

On Twitter, Cllr Tim Prater, leader of the Liberal Democrats Group on Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC), said the decision will have a “massive impact” on the area.

He said: “What new insanity is this?! That’s not an advertised feature of Operation Brock.

“It pushes all traffic only wanting to get from Ashford to Folkestone off the motorway, and down the A20. Barking.”

Ashford MP Damian Green tweeted: “This is a ridiculous decision by Highways England which needs to be changed.”

Sharon Swansdale, of the Mersham-based Village Alliance campaign group, says she can’t see why the on-slips have to stay closed.

“How do the rapid response teams from the William Harvey Hospital get to Folkestone? They’re putting lives at risk.”

On Tuesday evening, Highways England said it “currently doesn’t have” an estimated reopening date.

The M20 coastbound onslips between Junction 9 and Junction 11 are still closed