Residents on an estate plagued by blaring horns from queuing lorries are at last being given hope of peace when they sleep.

The A20, next to Aycliffe in Dover, is now being designated as a quiet zone from 11.30pm to 7am the next day.

Truckers who breach that order could be fined.

The new strategy, which is being trialled, will be used when Dover TAP (Traffic Assessment Project) is in place.

This is the system that controls the flow of HGVs into the port when roads towards it start to get clogged up.

Over the years when it is has been used neighbours have complained about being tormented, including kept awake, by frustrated HGV drivers sounding their horns when they are held up.

The quiet zone, implemented by National Highways, stretches for almost a mile from the Court Wood Interchange near Capel-le-Ferne, to the Western Heights Roundabout, which leads to the only entrance road to the small community of Aycliffe.

Nicky Potts, National Highways head of operational integration, said: “We understand that when there is disruption at the port, residents of Aycliffe can often be disturbed by lorry drivers who are queuing in TAP along the A20.

“In particular, when they use horns during the night which can keep people awake.

“Whilst we look at broader solutions, we have agreed we will implement a quiet zone along the A20 leading up to the Port which will run throughout the summer deployment of Operation Brock.”

From the end of this week signs will be in place along the A20 to tell drivers of the quiet zone.

National Highways will also be sharing the news with haulage groups and ferry operators, as well as working with police to provide additional visibility and where necessary enforcement.

Any HGV drivers not complying with the signage risk a fine of £60.

The move comes as Dover braces itself for another anticipated seize-up of port traffic later this week as schools break up for the summer holidays.

The Operation Brock contraflow system is also in place on the M20 ahead of the holidays.

All HGVs heading for the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel must follow the signs to join Operation Brock at the M20 Junction 8.

Any EU-bound lorry drivers not complying with signage and trying to use another route to Eurotunnel or the Port of Dover risk a fine of £300.

National Highways warns they will be sent to the back of the queue by police or enforcement agents, wasting their own time, fuel and money.

This includes trying to bypass the M20 by using the M2/A2 at Brenley Corner near Faversham.

All other coastbound traffic, including local freight and car drivers heading for the Continent, should follow the signs and cross over to enter the contraflow on the M20 London-bound carriageway.

Anyone planning to use Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover is advised to plan their journeys and check with the travel operator before setting out.

They should also allow more time for their journeys and make sure they are prepared for delays, so should have plenty of fuel, warm clothes, and supplies such as food and drink. The contraflow is expected to be in place for two weeks.

Many schools in England and Wales break up for the six-week summer vacation on Friday, with a resulting huge influx of traffic for cross-Channel services expected.

The Port of Dover authority today warned of two-and-a-half hour delays this week.

One problem is that enhanced post-Brexit passport checks by French border officials Police Aux Frontieres (PAF) have significantly increased processing times.

In the final day of the summer term 2022 nearly all of the town of Dover was gridlocked with port traffic spilling out into minor roads.

Such hold ups happen periodically in the town, also during other holiday peak times such as Easter but also for reasons such as stormy weather holding up ferries and strikes in Calais by French workers.

But when lorries have been kept waiting outside Aycliffe residents have told of constant disruption from lorries sounding their horns.

Neighbours have told KentOnline that it only takes one driver to start blasting and the others follow and they have been kept awake as late as 4am.

National Highways, as a member of the Kent Resilience Forum explains that it is working in partnership with other bodies across Kent to keep the roads moving and minimise disruption to local residents, businesses and communities.

The KRF will regularly review if the Operation Brock barrier is still required.