Holidaymakers are hit by two-hour queues at Dover AGAIN as highways bosses warn that port will be ‘extremely busy’ this weekend
- Ferry operator DFDS urged passengers to allow ‘120 minutes’ for check-in process and border controls in Kent
- With schools holidays tens of 1,000s of families will start their summer holidays this weekend in more chaos
- Dover Port expects to see 140,000 passengers, 45,000 cars and 18,000 freight from today until Sunday
Holidaymakers faced two-hour queues at the Port of Dover today amid warnings from highway bosses that this weekend will be ‘extremely busy’ for those going to France.
Yet again holidaymakers were hit by two hour queues to check-in and go through border security as pictures today showed the extent of the tailbacks that caused gridlock again near the Port of Dover.
People driving to the Port are also told to leave extra time for their journeys and ensure they have enough food and water if they get stuck along the motorway.
Ferry operator DFDS also urged passengers to ‘allow 120 minutes to complete the check-in process and border controls’.
There are also fears that cross-Channel sailings will surge as the port expects 140,000 passengers, 45,000 cars and 18,000 freight vehicles between Thursday and Sunday.
National Highways, which manages England’s major roads, warned: ‘Drivers travelling in and around Kent are advised to plan ahead as this weekend is likely to be extremely busy.’
This has also caused the AA to issue for the first time ever an Amber traffic warning ahead of time as they advised ‘all eyes will be on Dover and Folkestone’ for the worst issues from 11am until 3pm on Friday and Saturday.
The news follows queues of up to 30 hours last Saturday which was blamed on everything from French border officers not turning up for work to Brexit and a serious crash on the M20 and led to a war of words between France and the UK.
Cars queueing pictured today as they entered the Port of Dover in Kent as families embark on summer getaways following the start of holidays for many schools in England and Wales
Ferry operator DFDS urged passengers to ‘allow 120 minutes to complete the check-in process and border controls’ at the Kent port. Pictured: Today’s chaos
The Port of Dover traffic builds up due to Border controls checks being carry out in Dover, United Kingdom on July 28
Why were the queues so big?
Extra post-Brexit border checks and French authorities’ understaffing of checkpoints in Dover have been blamed for the hold-ups – as well as a serious crash on the M20.
Is passport stamping causing the problems?
One of the main causes blamed for the delays has been the post-Brexit requirement for British passport holders to get their passports stamped, which is said to have increased the average time to check each car from 58 seconds to 90 seconds.
The reason for the stamp is that post-Brexit travel rules mean British nationals can only stay in the Schengen zone for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Britain was never a member of Schengen – but before Brexit the UK was subject to EU immigration law that allowed no border control, free movement for long-stay travellers and the right to work, study or live in the UK for residents of EU countries.
Asked whether the UK would like the French to stop stamping travellers’ passports, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘Generally speaking we have a good relationship working with our French counterparts on these juxtaposed controls.
‘It is for, obviously, individual governments to decide how to carry out checks at the border. Our view is that these should be done proportionately and sensibly given the good working relationships that we have.’
Is the trouble at Dover because of Brexit?
The Government has insisted changes to border control measures after Brexit did not have a ‘significant role’ in the disruption at Dover, and that problems occurred because French authorities did not provide enough border officials on Friday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said today: ‘We understand there are changes, post-Brexit. We recognise that, we have planned for that.’
The problems at Dover are down to a combination of factors ‘including a shortage of French border control staff’, the spokesman said, adding: ‘So these are not scenes that we think are necessitated by leaving the European Union.’
A view of the check-in at the Port of Dover in Kent following a weekend of long delays
What do the French say about staff shortages?
The local French police body handling the northern France area around the Channel Tunnel said last Friday that problems with traffic coming over from Dover had been caused by an ‘unexpected technical incident’ under the Channel Tunnel.
François Decoster, vice president of the Haute-de-France region, which includes Calais, said the UK had gone back 30 years because of Brexit and suggested the UK should ask the EU to let them join Schengen which allows free movement of people.
Is Covid to blame for the problems at Dover?
There is no suggestion that staff illness – Covid or otherwise – has affected the lack of French border police in position at Dover.
However, the huge surge in passengers going on summer holidays is certainly related to Covid given that the pandemic-era travel restrictions have now eased.
What could happen this summer?
Toby Howe, senior highways manager at Kent County Council, said of the rest of this summer: ‘It’s a very vulnerable situation, it takes very little to cause further issues.
‘So, for example, last Friday night we had the Port of Dover telling us there was a lack of resource at the port but we then had a serious crash on the motorway as well so those two things together then really compounded the situation.
‘So you only need another crash on the road or maybe a train breaks down or there’s a power failure somewhere for it then to become a big problem.’
The Port of Dover has said the fact it was able to clear traffic demonstrates that its ‘summer plan will work for the rest of the holiday period’.
However the AA said ‘significant progress’ would be needed to help reduce congestion in the weeks ahead. The RAC Foundation said the delays at Dover were ‘stark evidence of how fragile our continental links across the Channel can be’.
Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister said today that the system was ‘back to normal by Sunday morning’ once French border controls were fully staffed showed ‘our collective summer plan works’.
He went on: ‘We, in turn, together with our ferry operators and port traffic management teams, will be equally ensuring that we are fully resourced once again to provide the best overall experience for customers and to keep Kent’s roads flowing and our community open.
‘I am extremely grateful to French border colleagues for their commitment this coming weekend and the fundamental difference this should now make to customers, ferry operators, Kent partners and our community.’
P&O Ferries also posted on Twitter saying: ‘There are currently major queues at border controls in Dover. Please allow up to two hours to complete all checks ahead of your sailing.
‘If you miss your sailing, or if you complete the checks early, we will put you on the first available sailing when you check in.’
National Highways, which manages England’s motorways and major A roads, said: ‘Drivers travelling in and around Kent are advised to plan ahead as this weekend is likely to be extremely busy.
‘Operation Brock contraflow remains in place on the M20 and is part of a series of measures to improve Kent’s resilience and ensure the smooth flow of traffic through the region in the event of disruption to services across the English Channel.’
Earlier this month, the port advised passengers to expect average wait times of 60-90 minutes at French border controls during peak periods because UK tourists are ‘subject to enhanced checks’ due to Brexit.
Meanwhile the AA issued an ‘amber traffic warning’ with congestion expected to peak between 11am and 3pm on Friday and Saturday.
This is due to a combination of rail strikes, the start of the Football League season in England, the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the first school summer holiday switchover days for holiday lets.
Roads approaching Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone are expected to be busy, as well as those serving Devon and Cornwall, such as the M5, A303 and A30.
The south-west and western sections of the M25, the Bristol M4/M5 junction, and the M6, M42, M1 and M62 are also vulnerable to jams this weekend.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: ‘With holiday let switchover day starting on Friday mixed with train strikes and a huge weekend of sport, we are concerned that drivers will experience delays across the network with the south of England particularly vulnerable.
‘All eyes will be on Dover and Folkestone, but we believe changes have been made throughout the week and we will keep our fingers crossed for a smoother trip across the Channel.
‘Breakdowns can make jams worse and last weekend we saw a rise in breakdowns where vehicle checks had not been carried out before setting off.
‘Spending 10 minutes checking tyres and fluid levels before setting off can make a big difference in helping people getting to their destination.’
Earlier in the week, France continued to escalate the war of words with Britain over queues at Dover and Folkestone by insisting that Brexit and not a lack of Gallic border staff is to blame for the chaos that threatens to wreck the summer.
Hundreds of thousands of people were delayed by between 21 and 30 hours over the weekend as they tried to cross the Channel at the start of the school holidays.
There were queues on the Kent coast again on Tuesday but this weekend is predicted to be the busiest of the year – and since the pandemic ended – raising fears that long delays could return.
On Monday, Downing Street insisted it was not as a result of Brexit with senior MPs insisting France is being over-officious with passport checks because they are ‘furious’ that the UK chose to leave the bloc.
And now senior French politician Pierre-Henri Dumont, Republican MP for Calais, has again blamed delays on the UK’s exit from the EU, telling BBC News it was ‘an aftermath of Brexit’ with more checks needed and claiming the Dover port is ‘too small’ with too few kiosks due to lack of space.
He also told The Times: ‘There is a race to be the next prime minister and everyone is trying to say it is somebody’s fault but this is clearly an aftermath of Brexit.’ He also denied there was a shortage of French border staff after a short delay on Friday.
He said: ‘They ran 24/7 but you had the same queues. That is the crystal clear proof that [British ministers] are lying. The excuses from the British government were silly because this will not change. It is the new reality.
‘We need to co-operate more and more, but co-operation begins by not blaming someone else for your problems. France and the European Union did not ask for disruption. Those who asked were the British government.’
Francois Decoster, vice-president of the Haute-de-France region, which includes Calais, even suggested the UK should reverse the 2016 vote to leave the EU – or consider joining the bloc’s borderless Schengen area.
He claimed Britain had gone back 30 years because of extra passport checks now being carried out in Kent on families heading abroad for holidays.
But the remarks sparked a furious backlash, with former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt accusing Paris of punishing Britain by under-staffing the border and refusing to consider relaxing EU red tape around checks.
And one senior Port of Dover official told the Mail: ‘Brexit or no Brexit, what are you trying to achieve with that level of border control? It’s all very well to say you need to be part of Schengen to have light touch control, but do you really? And should you?
‘You do wonder what realistic threat is posed to the EU’s single market by families going on holiday.
‘You either have an awkward process and resource accordingly, or have a sensible process.’ The source added: ‘We’re only going to avoid it again this weekend if the booths are properly manned.’
Holidaymakers faced two-hour queues at the Port of Dover today amid warnings from highway bosses that this weekend will be ‘extremely busy’ for those going to France
Ferry operator DFDS also urged passengers to ‘allow 120 minutes to complete the check-in process and border controls’ at the Kent port as drivers were pictured waiting walked around the motorway as the chaos continue for yet another day
There are fears that cross-Channel sailings will surge in the coming days, leading to more disruption. The port expects to welcome around 140,000 passengers, 45,000 cars and 18,000 freight vehicles between Thursday and Sunday. Pictured: Woman walks around with her child as others stand nearby
This chaos has caused the AA to issue for the first time ever an Amber traffic warning for this weekend as they advised ‘all eyes will be on Dover and Folkestone’. Pictured: Today, a man sits while he waits for the traffic to restart
People driving to the Port are also told to leave extra time for their journeys and ensure they have enough food and water if they get stuck along the motorway. Pictured: The Port today
The Port of Dover traffic builds up with freight due to Border controls checks being carry out in Dover
Only around half of passport booths in the port were manned by French border police on Friday morning, when it declared a critical incident.
By the afternoon, almost all of the ten or so available for cars and lorries were manned. But the backlog was so large it took until Saturday to clear most of it.
This then also freed up the roads leading to Folkestone and the Eurotunnel, where huge queues also formed because travellers could not reach check-in areas.
Due to Britain now being a ‘third country’, Paris insists travellers must have their passports stamped with dates when entering and leaving the EU’s Schengen area, which France is a member of.
This is to ensure Britons don’t stay more than 90 days within a 180 day period without a visa, which is required post-Brexit for longer visits.
Border guards have also been ordered to ask British holidaymakers whether they have a return ticket, have enough money for their stay and have booked accommodation.
It means it can take an extra 90 seconds longer to carry out passport checks on Continent-bound cars.
Taunting British families while describing his own seamless journey, Mr Decoster told the BBC: ‘I felt very sorry for the British families that were really stuck in such a miserable situation.
‘And, meanwhile, I did an extraordinary journey yesterday. I went from my town in the Haute-de-France to Amsterdam with my family and I crossed two borders and it took me not even a second to cross either of these borders.’
Due to Britain now being a ‘third country’, Paris insists travellers must have their passports stamped with dates when entering and leaving the EU’s Schengen area, which France is a member of. Pictured: The queue seen today
A woman carries a young child through the check-in lanes of cars waiting to enter the Port of Dover in Kent as families embark on summer getaways today
Cars queue to enter the Port of Dover in Kent as families embark on summer getaways following the start of holidays for many schools in England and Wales
Vehicles queue to enter the Port of Dover in Kent as families embark on summer getaways following the start of holidays for many schools in England and Wales
Twisting the knife, he added: ‘I had heard that Brexit would have no cost, but apparently it has cost, because we have to change the situation, we have to change and do new [passport] controls.’
Suggesting Britain should reverse Brexit or join the bloc’s borderless Schengen area, of which Britain was never a part, he said: ‘But anyhow, nobody says what the best situation will be – to come to the situation before [Brexit] actually, with no controls.
‘We still have a few non-EU members that are members of the Schengen area, why don’t we explore such an idea?’
French police chiefs were meeting British border officials to discuss how the same debacle can be avoided this weekend.
Families were stuck in queues of more than 20 hours on Friday and Saturday, when the big summer getaway began after schools broke up.
Drivers said they were ‘treated worse than cattle’ and described how children changed into their pyjamas and brushed their teeth on the roadside while desperate passengers were forced to use the verge as a public toilet.
The 08.01 Monday morning Eurostar service from London to Paris was ‘cancelled for operation reasons’, Eurostar announced.
The debacle began on Friday morning when a ‘critical incident’ was declared at Dover where motorists faced waits of more than seven hours. Pictured: The scene today
Buses, and cars are seen today trying to get into the Port of Dover as motorists wait to get on to ferries and into France
Cars queue pictured today to enter the Port of Dover in Kent as families embark on summer getaways following the start of holidays for many schools in England and Wales
On Saturday, families were still stuck in between 21 and 30-hour delays which saw them stranded in their cars overnight in queues at Folkestone, described as Britain’s ‘hotspot of holiday hell’. Children changed into their pyjamas and brushed their teeth on the roadside while desperate passengers were forced to use the verge as a public toilet. One passenger named Joan told LBC: ‘The hard shoulder is like a urinal’.
The debacle began on Friday morning when a ‘critical incident’ was declared at Dover where motorists faced waits of more than seven hours. The two days of gridlock at the start of the busiest school holiday season for years was blamed on a lack of French border guards after only six out of 12 booths were initially manned.
Jeremy Hunt said: ‘The bigger issue is that there is a lack of willingness in the French Government to be cooperative with Britain in any way at all because they are furious about Brexit, they are furious with Boris, they think we have mucked up their long term plan for a united Europe.
‘And I hope that when we have a new PM that we can have a reset with France and the EU so we can cooperate as good neighbours should’.
Source: Read Full Article
