Tourists heading to Europe could face 14-hour queues at Dover from October
Tourists heading to Europe could face waits of up to 14 hours at border controls under a scheme to be launched in October, MPs have been told.
The Port of Dover and the surrounding area could face significant disruption when the EU entry/exit system is introduced unless measures are taken to prevent delays, parliament’s European scrutiny committee has heard.
Ashford borough council told the committee 14-hour queues were “a reasonable worst case” scenario if the scheme was implemented as planned.
The controls require people entering the EU to register their fingerprints and a photograph alongside their passport.
There have been multiple episodes of gridlocked traffic at the Port of Dover and surrounding roads in recent years, with post-Brexit checks adding to waiting times.
The tourist organisation Visit Kent expressed concerns that delays caused by the new system could have a knock-on effect on local businesses, which had been affected during previous periods of disruption.
Ashford council said 14-hour delays at the port was likely to lead to queues along the A20 and M20 that could block access to staff and tourist traffic at Eurotunnel in Folkestone.
Eurostar said without upgrades there could be queues in terminals of more than an hour at peak times. HS1, which runs UK high-speed rail services, said the decision not to enable online pre-registration would “put enormous pressure on infrastructure at St Pancras International”.
Downing Street sought to downplay the risks of delays. A No 10 spokesperson said: “On some of those scenarios, rightly we’re not going to get into hypotheticals about delays … but there are tried and tested contingency plans in place and a lot of work is managed by the Kent resilience forum so we will make sure we’re prepared and our focus remains on ensuring the scheme does not unnecessarily impact local communities or result in delays for travellers.
“We are working very closely as you would expect with the French, with all the port authorities, to ensure that travellers and passengers do not experience unnecessary delays – that work continues.”
The chair of the committee, Sir Bill Cash, said: “Queues of more than 14 hours, vehicles backed up along major roads, businesses starved of footfall: this evidence paints an alarming picture of the possible risks surrounding the entry-exit system’s implementation.
“Clearly, this policy could have a very serious impact, not only for tourists and travel operators but also for local businesses. I implore decision makers on both sides of the Channel to take note of this evidence.
“The scheme is due to be implemented in October; the clock is ticking, and these issues must be urgently addressed.”
This article was amended on 7 February 2024 to remove an incorrect reference that Ashford borough council is “responsible for Dover”. The relevant authority is Dover district council.