An MP has applauded the decision to stop Operation Brock.

Highways England confirmed that the contraflow system between Ashford and Maidstone (Junctions 9 to 8) would be stood down.

Using the system had been in preparation for Brexit day, due on Thursday but now put off until January 31 following EU agreement.

Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover and Deal, who had been lobbying to end Operation Brock, said: "It's the right thing to do."

He particularly welcomed this as the contraflow system was there in case of a no-deal Brexit.

The extra three months gives Britain more chance to leave with a full deal.

The road restriction also involves a 50mph speed limit, leaving the coastbound stretch for lorries.

This was put in place yesterday while it was still thought that the UK would leave the European Union this week.

But today Highways England said the scheme would be stood down "as soon as practicable."

Work on this took place this afternoon.

But Mr Elphicke raised two other issues affecting drivers on the M20, making him previously comment that it had become Britain's slowest motorway.

These are the Smart Motorway scheme and delays from the development of Junction 10a at Ashford.

He said today: “ I also want to see highways bosses go further and reopen the M20 to free flowing traffic once again. That means axing the Smart Motorway scheme around Maidstone as it will simply make the M20 more dangerous."

.Mr Elphicke stressed that at least five people are said to have died on such systems elsewhere in the UK.

Drivers are also slowed between Junctions 3 (for the M25) and 5 (for Aylesford) for the installation of a Smart Motorway and near Junction 10 at Ashford during work to complete Junction 10a.

He commented: "The Junction 10a works are highly disruptive and have taken far too long.

" For me it highlights why we should bring back the rent-a-lane policy of the Thatcher years."

Lane rental, from Margaret Thatcher's premiership in the 1980s, involves charging contractors for using the highways, therefore encouraging them to finish on time.

Kent County Council and Transport for London still use the scheme but not Highways England, which is in charge of motorways.

Junction 10a was scheduled for completion in September and there is no new date so far.

Mr Elphicke said: "We cannot tolerate projects dragging on endlessly with but a few workers ever visibly on site.

“And our roads don’t need these half-baked schemes. They need proper investment in extra capacity. That’s why I was so pleased ministers agreed to my demands to provide funding to widen the A2.

“We should use the savings from axing the deadly motorway schemes to get on with more much-needed projects.”

Drivers in Mr Elphicke's constituency are also affected by delays on the M20.

It is the only direct route from Dover to Ashford and the county townMaidstone and one of only two straight passages for motorists to London.

UPDATE: The M20 was reopened on October 30

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