Dover latest *

There are ways around the serious traffic hold ups being experienced at Dover.

Last Friday all vehicles were stuck in long queues as French immigration controls reportedly caused by a "critical incident" according to the port authorities.

Doug Bannister, Chief Executive of the port, said "woefully inadequate" staffing in France was to blame for the disruption.

"Knowing we are now in a new world of post-Brexit and Covid checks, we worked to increase interim French border control booths by 50% and have improved traffic systems in order to build in resilience and capacity in time for the summer", he added.

"We have worked particularly hard, and extremely positively up to now, with our Police Aux Frontières (PAF) colleagues over recent months to plan for the traffic volumes that were fully expected".

The port said it has shared traffic volumes in "granular detail" with the French authorities in order for the volumes to be matched by adequate border resource.

"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", Bannister added.

"Working with and through the UK government, we will also liaise constructively with PAF to work through the present logjam and to stress again the importance of adequate French border resource for the coming days and weeks on which we had previously been assured".

Drivers bound for Eurotunnel should not be affected with the terminal sited just outside Folkstone, and 15 miles to the west of the port.  If joining a walk-on ferry, or cruise ship is on your plans, there are high-speed trains from St Pancras and other London termini.   

www.doverport.co.uk

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Diana Kenning,

The terms of the particular form of Brexit negotiated by the UK, are unfavourable to the UK citizens, as Europe ‘takes back control’ of its borders and enforces the rules of 3 month visa- free visits.

John Edward Baxter-Smith, United Kingdom

Nothing to do with Brexit then - France's fault of course.

Diana Kenning,

The terms of the particular form of Brexit negotiated by the UK, are unfavourable to the UK citizens, as Europe ‘takes back control’ of its borders and enforces the rules of 3 month visa- free visits.