Dover traffic delays - live: French MP blames Brexit for chaos as queues form for second day
Busiest travel weekend since 2019 kicks off as school holidays begin
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French politician Pierre-Henri Dumont, Republican MP for Calais, has blamed the UK’s exit from the EU for the travel chaos, as holidaymakers joined lengthy queues in Dover for the second day running.
Mr Henri Dumont told 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.
However, Tory leadership hopeful Liz Truss blamed the delays on a lack of staffing by the French at the border. The foreign secretary said the delays and queues were “unacceptable” and called on France to act over the “entirely avoidable” delays.
It comes after travellers got stuck in queues for up to six hours in the Port of Dover on Friday at the start of the summer school holidays – which led to the port declaring a “critical incident”.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “As the schools closed their doors fully yesterday, Saturday could prove busier still this weekend.
“Drivers should continue to expect disruption and delays on major holiday routes to the south-west, eastern coast and ports of Dover and Folkestone.
“While many have decided to go at the start of the summer holidays, between now and the beginning of September when schools return, each Friday and Saturday will be busy on our roads because these are the main switchover days for holiday lets.”
Good morning, and welcome to The Independent’s travel liveblog. We’ll be sharing all the latest updates as the great summer getaway gets underway.
Ferry companies tell customers to allow four hours to check-in at Dover
Several ferry companies operating out of Dover port have warned passengers travelling with them today to allow four hours to complete the check-in and border control process.
DFDS Ferries, which sails from Dover to Calais and Dunkerque, tweeted: “Please allow four hours to complete the check in process and border controls at the port.”
P&O Ferries is reporting that delays are currently “in excess of four hours”, adding: “Please arrive prepared for a prolonged wait. Carry snacks and additional water with you.”
One traveller said they were moving “50 metres per hour”, while another tweeted: “Sat in lanes waiting to get to border control. Zero movement.”
Port of Dover declares ‘critical incident'
The Port of Dover has declared a “critical incident” this morning, as drivers have been stuck in queues in excess of four hours.
In a damning statement, the Port blamed French authorities for the situation, saying “woefully inadequate staffing” was the root cause of the problems.
“We are deeply frustrated that the resource at the French border overnight and early this morning has been woefully inadequate to meet our predicted demand and even more deeply regret the consequences that will now be felt by so many,” it said in a statement.
“We have shared traffic volumes in granular detail with the French authorities in order that these volumes can be matched by adequate border resource. The Dover route remains the most popular sea route to France and France remains one of the key holiday destinations for British families.
“We know that resource is finite, but the popularity of Dover is not a surprise. Regrettably, the PAF resource has been insufficient and has fallen far short of what is required to ensure a smooth first weekend of the peak summer getaway period.”
Port of Dover attacks French for ruining start to holiday getaway
‘’We are deeply frustrated that the resource at the French border overnight and early this morning has been woefully inadequate,’ says port
French authorities have ‘caused’ backlog at Dover, says minister
Foreign Office minister Graham Stuart has said the government was trying to resolve the congestion at Dover – but said it was French authorities’ “problem”.
“We have been working closely with French authorities, because it’s their staff, who have the ability to cope and process people, that’s caused the backlog,” he told Sky News.
Mr Stuart said the French authorities had added three additional booths at Dover. “We’ve worked with them to get those staffed up,” he said.
The minister added: “It’s not a Border Force problem, as such, it is the French authorities. All we can do is continue to work with them to make sure their technology and people are in place, and we can get these queues reduced as quickly as possible.”
Brexit making everything take longer
Our travel correspondent Simon Calder has pointed to influence of Brexit on the chaos at the port of Dover.
“Since Brexit it’s been necessary to have every single passport stamped at Dover ... and as a result of that everything takes much longer,” he told Good Morning Britain.
“They [French authorities] needed to staff up, but the Port of Dover say you just haven’t put enough people on duty. Already we’ve been warned of four-hour waits to get through French border control.”
Foreign Office taking delays ‘very seriously'
Foreign Office minister Graham Stuart told Times Radio: “I hesitate not least as a diplomat, now as a foreign minister, to condemn our French counterparts. They have struggled with staffing just as we sometimes struggle with staffing.
“But I know that everything is being done and I was part of a cross-Whitehall ministerial meeting yesterday looking at this, seeking to make sure that we used our ambassador in Paris, Dame Menna Rawlings. She has been in touch with her counterparts, we’ve had ministerial contact with the French home minister.
“So we’ve been taking this very seriously. Inevitably at this time because of the massive increase in the numbers of vehicles there are some delays.”
Traffic ‘at a standstill’ approaching Port of Dover
Traffic is “at a standstill” on approach to the Port of Dover, ferry company DFDS has warned travellers.
The brand has tweeted: “We are aware of the congestion on the roads in and around Dover leading to the Port.
“Traffic is currently at a standstill on Jubilee way and heavy traffic on the A20 approaching the port.
“On your arrival at check in we will get you sailing as soon as possible!”
Customers told to brace for five-hour queues at port
Passengers attempting to travel from the Port of Dover are being told to expect five-hour long queues.
P&O Ferries is telling customers: “There are still large queues at border control in the Port of Dover. We advise that you plan for a prolonged wait of approx 5hrs.
“There are limited toilet facilities, we recommend stopping en route. Please come prepared with refreshments to make your wait more comfortable.”
It has added that all sailings are on time and check in is free flowing, with the next departures at 11.15, 12.35 and 14.00.
“Rest assured, if you miss your sailing you will be on the next available one,” says P&O.
Liberal Democrat Peer blames Brexit for border queues
A Liberal Democrat Peer has blamed Brexit for the border queues seen today at Dover.
Dick Newby tweeted: “As long queues form at Dover and emergency state declared remember how easy it was to travel to EU before Tory Brexit. Anyone seen invisible GrantSchapps? #libdems #Brexitchaos”.
Man pays £400 to travel to Germany to avoid four-hour Dover queues
A railway manager has had to pay £400 to travel to Germany with his elderly mother, amid long queues at Dover.
John Till, 45, and his mother, Edna Johnson, 87, were due to travel to the Port of Dover this afternoon from west Dorset, but reports of long travel queues there prompted him to make other plans.
He told the PA news agency: “I saw that people had already been queuing for four hours. I’m taking my elderly mother over to see some friends in Germany, so I have a really long drive on the other side when we arrive.
“I couldn’t run the risk of being stuck in a queue for four hours with no toilets and the horrendous drive the other side, so at half four this morning I made the snap decision to rebook travel with Brittany Ferries and travel from the Port of Poole, which is a lot more expensive.”
He said that the changes cost him £400 but he had “no other choice” than to make them because the trip had been in the works for a “very long time” and there was “no way I was going to let my mum down”.
He added: “Had it been made clear a couple of days ago that there was a risk of such long queues, I might have made alternative arrangements, which might have not been this expensive.”
Reporting by agencies
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