Heads up - Port of Dover delays

[Sackmycook]

Fight back against the French i say.

The company I lease my holiday home to in France, Vacanceole, try to charge me 60 Euros a week admin fee when I stay there, as per contract.
I'm into my 4th year of refusing to pay. They mention it each year at reception. I just give them a Gallic shrug of the shoulders and walk away....they don't chase

 

[shropschris]

They have to check and stamp all pasports now , I went a few weeks ago it was quiet so no issue however ,it takes time and that 30 seconds per stamp will soon ad up.
As for the French they did not vote for brexit some of the uk did ,so its up to the uk to make sure it flows smoothly not the French .
The Lorrys still have no parks ext hence operation stack and Dover being clogged with hgvs its a royal clusterfuck that should have been sorted the day after the vote the government has simply hoped this would go away it wont .
Lets hope they all act like adults and sort this out soon

 

[Bav]

They have to check and stamp all pasports now , I went a few weeks ago it was quiet so no issue however ,it takes time and that 30 seconds per stamp will soon ad up.
As for the French they did not vote for brexit some most of the uk did ,so its up to the uk to make sure it flows smoothly not the French .
The Lorrys still have no parks ext hence operation stack and Dover being clogged with hgvs its a royal clusterfuck that should have been sorted the day after the vote the government has simply hoped this would go away it wont .
Lets hope they all act like adults and sort this out soon

Corrected that for you.

 

[Loz]

Send the French passport control back over to their side and let the queues build up on their side, they'll soon get it sorted.

 

[dubber36]

Could you post if any issues as that might influence what time we set off from the Alps. Thanks.

No problems at all coming back into the UK. Straight through check in, then I'd say about an hour until boarding the train. Straight off the train this end and onto an empty motorway.

I can't help thinking that all those travelling out this weekend will be coming back the other way next weekend, so who knows what it will be like then.

 

[MarkHob]

Got back to UK Sunday evening, the tunnel itself was very busy but check-in was fine, got there 2 hours early but no chance of hoping onto an earlier train as all full.
I noticed that they had operation stack going for HGVs and the HGV queue on the motorway was about 6 miles, but they had closed the motorway completely to cars, bringing the off at Ashford and then routing then thru the backroads to the terminal slip road side entry. Looked like carnage.

 

[Ads_Essex]

Got back to UK Sunday evening, the tunnel itself was very busy but check-in was fine, got there 2 hours early but no chance of hoping onto an earlier train as all full.
I noticed that they had operation stack going for HGVs and the HGV queue on the motorway was about 6 miles, but they had closed the motorway completely to cars, bringing the off at Ashford and then routing then thru the backroads to the terminal slip road side entry. Looked like carnage.

For our trip on Thursday evening, I’m considering taking the A2 to Denton and then the A260 so I come in from the south, unless you’ve got any other advice?

 

[dubber36]

When we got off the train on Saturday afternoon, we came out of the terminal, forked left before joining the M20, went over the motorway, then east on the A20 back towards Junction 12 to stay at the Holiday Inn. We were travelling against the 'flow' of stationary traffic which was backed up way east of Junction 12 that we could see.

Looking at Google Maps, the M20 was closed, so traffic was heading east on the A20. To get to the tunnel access road, you have to go beyond to the Frogholt roundabout, then double back on yourself. The issue here for traffic coming from the east to this roundabout is that it has to give way to the traffic coming from their right. Even with stationary traffic on this roundabout, people that have been queuing will be unlikely to let other people in, which will cause the west bound traffic to back up.



The least congested way to the Frogholt roundabout was from the South past the Rugby Club. Saying that, if the M20 is open, there may not be any time saved by potentially getting snarled up in Hythe.

 

[Nige_g]

Just thank your lucky stars that border officers in EU countries aren’t checking all of our in and out stamps and counting up the days as they could do. See how long the queues would be then.

The number of booths for passport checks are not that many anyway. If the French are buggering about as has been suggested by not opening all booths, then there is still something wrong if it causes that much of a UK problem. No longer can we just show passports. Imagine having to that for every occupant of a car.

Perhaps it is just the French “Taking back control of their borders” and complying with their immigration rules.

I also find it easier to use Portsmouth, even prior to the B word. Always easier to get there (for me anyway) although distance to there or Dover is similar but always seemed to run smoother.

 

[Bav]

If the French are buggering about as has been suggested by not opening all booths, then there is still something wrong if it causes that much of a UK problem.

According to the Telegraph report (link in post #18), Dover Port officials and PAF worked closely to quantify the number of booths required to handle Dover's busiest weekend of the year. Having set up the required number of booths and agreed staffing requirements, port officials claimed that PAF staff simply did not turn in agreed numbers, initially leaving 60% of the booths unmanned.

Given the above, I'm interested to hear how you think there would ever be a different outcome, other than massive queues outside Dover.

 

[Bigsidavies]

For our trip on Thursday evening, I’m considering taking the A2 to Denton and then the A260 so I come in from the south, unless you’ve got any other advice?

We are on the tunnel on Thursday evening too.
Hopefully.
Might see you in the queue.

 

[Nige_g]

How many booths are there able to open at any one point. Lets say that 1/2 of the staff failed to turn up. Therefore if only 10 booths out of 20 (I don't think there are that many though, but could be wrong) I find how that alone could cause the delays that it has done to be incredulous. Add to that how long it takes to check and stamp passports then it would obviously make the problem worse. To blame it all on the French is just govt propaganda, IMHO of course.

Of course, depending on which side of the fence one sits and depending on which media outlet one reads and who one chooses to believe will always alter ones opinion.

Apparently only 4 out of nine booths were open (according to a news report). 4 or 5 staff were late according to the report and that brought us to our knees. Something else quite clearly had gone wrong.

It also mentions a complete lack of funding requested by the port. So I dare say it'll be a combination of a lot of events with everyone blaming everyone else and not accepting any responsibility.

 

[Nige_g]

We are on the tunnel on Thursday evening too.
Hopefully.
Might see you in the queue.

Have a nice trip Dickie. Is this your Scandi trip?

 

[Bigsidavies]

Have a nice trip Dickie. Is this your Scandi trip?

Yeah, Norway here we come.
Thanks mate. Catch up when we get back.

 

[Bav]

How many booths are there able to open at any one point. Lets say that 1/2 of the staff failed to turn up. therefore if only 10 booths out of 20 (I don't think there are that many though, but could be wrong) I find how that alone could cause the delays that it has done to be incredulous. Add to that how long it takes to check and stamp passports then it would obviously make the problem worse. to blame it all on the French is just govt propaganda, IMHO of course.

10 booths with only 4 manned, so 60% of predicted traffic could not be processed. Completely credible IMO.

Sorry to press the point, but you still haven't explained what the UK could have done to prevent long queues given the French border staff pulled the rug from under all the planning and preparation.

 

[Nige_g]

@Bigsidavies Nice one. At least you can make a brew sat in the back or have a snooze. Just make sure you don't fall asleep at the wheel as the queue starts to move. Imagine doing that?

 

[Nige_g]

10 booths with only 4 manned, so 60% of predicted traffic could not be processed. Completely credible IMO.

Sorry to press the point, but you still haven't explained what the UK could have done to prevent long queues given the French border staff pulled the rug from under all the planning and preparation.

I think it best to leave it, lol. The thread will only get locked and or comments removed.