Holidaymakers have been hit by delays of up to 12 hours through Kent to get to the Port of Dover, with many being stuck in traffic overnight. Port authorities said delays built up due to French border checkpoints being understaffed overnight during heightened security levels. "Vast volumes of holiday traffic" were said to have compounded the problems. The port warned of road delays of five to 10 hours. Police are flying in water for stranded motorists by helicopter. P&O Ferries said there were estimated waiting times of up to 12 hours via the A20/M20, and up to three hours on the A2/A256, in addition to two hours at the port. Highways England warned of delays of up to 10 hours. "All traffic is being advised to use the M20/A20 as the A2 is at a standstill into the Port of Dover. With the summer getaway there are severe delays on the M2/A2, M20/A20 and at Round Hill tunnel," it said. Ian, who was among those stuck in the traffic, warned there could be fatalities if people did not get food and water. He said: "This is epic proportion and if someone doesn't take hold of this someone is going to die out here." The London-bound carriageway of the A20 was earlier closed to allow police motorbikes to deliver drinks, as temperatures soared. Water is being collected from the Coastguard base at Langdon, near Dover. Security checks at the Port of Dover were relaxed around lunchtime to help speed up the process of motorists through the port. But there are still long delays on the 12-mile stretch of the A20 near to Dover, with congestion on the M20 and M2, according to BBC Travel. Kent Police have advised travellers to pack food and water and consider making alternative travel arrangements.
Kent County Council said only three out of a potential seven booths had been available overnight at French border control. At one stage only one French officer was available to check passengers on hundreds of coaches, resulting in each coach taking 40 minutes to process, said the council. Ferry companies have said they will hold sailings to ensure people can travel and say those who miss their crossing because of the traffic will be put onto alternative crossings. P&O Ferries earlier refused to comment on reports some ferries had been leaving empty or with very few customers on board. The company said in a tweet: "Rest assured we'll get you on your way as soon as you pass the checks." Ferry operator DFDS Seaways said additional services had been added to help late-running customers. It said it would put delayed customers on the first available sailing free of charge at check-in. France has been under a state of emergency since last November, when terror attacks in Paris left 130 people dead and has tightened its border checks accordingly. The port said it raised concerns over French staffing levels with the UK government earlier this week, which was brought up with its French counterparts. No problems have been reported at other major ferry ports. There are no delays with Channel Tunnel services but people have been told it will take 90 minutes to check in due to extra security procedures. The BBC's Alexandra Mackenzie, on the M20 towards London, says there are 15 miles of mostly stationary traffic trying to get to Dover and that the M20 cannot be accessed between Dover and Folkestone.
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said people caught in the chaos were owed an apology, blaming poor management and a lack of forward planning. "For Dover to once again be plunged into traffic chaos is completely unacceptable," he said. "The Department for Transport and Home Office knew there would be heightened security checks in place in France. They should have been prepared. They weren't." Local resident Bronwen Page said no one appeared to be taking overall responsibility for the situation. She said: "Listening to BBC Radio Kent, I was utterly disgusted at the response in our county. I went to my local supermarket and picked up 20 crates of water and handed out the water." Those stuck in the queues have been voicing their frustration. Jessica said: "We have moved about one-and-a-half miles in 11 hours, an absolute disgrace. "We have a three and four-year-old with us, I'm pregnant as well and still have some morning sickness and with people using the side of the road as a toilet the whole thing is really unpleasant."
Bill Murray, who has been stuck for 12 hours, described the situation as "shambolic". He tweeted: "Bosses of this shambles must resign. No help. One policeman on a bike an hour ago, failed to stop... Truly a third world response. Woeful." Sonia Tutt, 38, on her way to Germany with more than a dozen others in a convoy, said: "Everyone is out of their vehicles, kids are playing football." She added: "When we went to join the motorway there was no indication you were likely to be sitting here all night." Kris Mazur spent the night on the A20 and said he had moved about one mile in 10 hours. He said people were standing around at the edge of the road having picnics or sleeping in their cars. He added: "There has been no access to food or toilets. The motorway is still completely blocked."
Jack Donnelly from London said he had been stuck for more than seven hours. He said they had not been given much information and families with children were especially struggling with the heat. "People are helping each other out but the atmosphere is starting to get tense," he added. Dale Savage was caught in the delays for 12 hours en route to his brother's wedding. He said: "There are a lot of kids here, a lot of young children - a lot of people want to go on their holidays. "There are no real frustrations, the real problem was no one knew what was going on." He described a "camping spirit... very much like Glastonbury" but without a band to see at the end of it. However, Twitter user Lemonjelly earlier said the mood was changing. "The novelty is wearing off. A few hours ago you would see picnics and kids on rollerblades skating up the A20. Now a lot of overheated, glum faces." Sarah Rossin added: "We've got three kids and they are being ace but it's 31 degrees on the motorway." Earlier on Saturdayl, Suzanne Holland said she had finally checked in for the 08:30 crossing - 12 hours after arriving in Dover. "Anyone would be uncomfortable for that time especially with no information. Had we known we would have tried to sleep," she said.
Source: BBC
Kent County Council said only three out of a potential seven booths had been available overnight at French border control. At one stage only one French officer was available to check passengers on hundreds of coaches, resulting in each coach taking 40 minutes to process, said the council. Ferry companies have said they will hold sailings to ensure people can travel and say those who miss their crossing because of the traffic will be put onto alternative crossings. P&O Ferries earlier refused to comment on reports some ferries had been leaving empty or with very few customers on board. The company said in a tweet: "Rest assured we'll get you on your way as soon as you pass the checks." Ferry operator DFDS Seaways said additional services had been added to help late-running customers. It said it would put delayed customers on the first available sailing free of charge at check-in. France has been under a state of emergency since last November, when terror attacks in Paris left 130 people dead and has tightened its border checks accordingly. The port said it raised concerns over French staffing levels with the UK government earlier this week, which was brought up with its French counterparts. No problems have been reported at other major ferry ports. There are no delays with Channel Tunnel services but people have been told it will take 90 minutes to check in due to extra security procedures. The BBC's Alexandra Mackenzie, on the M20 towards London, says there are 15 miles of mostly stationary traffic trying to get to Dover and that the M20 cannot be accessed between Dover and Folkestone.
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said people caught in the chaos were owed an apology, blaming poor management and a lack of forward planning. "For Dover to once again be plunged into traffic chaos is completely unacceptable," he said. "The Department for Transport and Home Office knew there would be heightened security checks in place in France. They should have been prepared. They weren't." Local resident Bronwen Page said no one appeared to be taking overall responsibility for the situation. She said: "Listening to BBC Radio Kent, I was utterly disgusted at the response in our county. I went to my local supermarket and picked up 20 crates of water and handed out the water." Those stuck in the queues have been voicing their frustration. Jessica said: "We have moved about one-and-a-half miles in 11 hours, an absolute disgrace. "We have a three and four-year-old with us, I'm pregnant as well and still have some morning sickness and with people using the side of the road as a toilet the whole thing is really unpleasant."
Bill Murray, who has been stuck for 12 hours, described the situation as "shambolic". He tweeted: "Bosses of this shambles must resign. No help. One policeman on a bike an hour ago, failed to stop... Truly a third world response. Woeful." Sonia Tutt, 38, on her way to Germany with more than a dozen others in a convoy, said: "Everyone is out of their vehicles, kids are playing football." She added: "When we went to join the motorway there was no indication you were likely to be sitting here all night." Kris Mazur spent the night on the A20 and said he had moved about one mile in 10 hours. He said people were standing around at the edge of the road having picnics or sleeping in their cars. He added: "There has been no access to food or toilets. The motorway is still completely blocked."
Jack Donnelly from London said he had been stuck for more than seven hours. He said they had not been given much information and families with children were especially struggling with the heat. "People are helping each other out but the atmosphere is starting to get tense," he added. Dale Savage was caught in the delays for 12 hours en route to his brother's wedding. He said: "There are a lot of kids here, a lot of young children - a lot of people want to go on their holidays. "There are no real frustrations, the real problem was no one knew what was going on." He described a "camping spirit... very much like Glastonbury" but without a band to see at the end of it. However, Twitter user Lemonjelly earlier said the mood was changing. "The novelty is wearing off. A few hours ago you would see picnics and kids on rollerblades skating up the A20. Now a lot of overheated, glum faces." Sarah Rossin added: "We've got three kids and they are being ace but it's 31 degrees on the motorway." Earlier on Saturdayl, Suzanne Holland said she had finally checked in for the 08:30 crossing - 12 hours after arriving in Dover. "Anyone would be uncomfortable for that time especially with no information. Had we known we would have tried to sleep," she said.
Source: BBC
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