Dover bosses try to halt Easter ferry chaos and warn drivers NOT to arrive early
Dover authorities yesterday unveiled contingency plans to avoid a repeat of last weekend’s chaos.
The Port of Dover declared a critical incident last Friday when long queues of vehicles trying to board ferries built up.
Port bosses admitted it was a “horrible situation” for many travellers, with the elderly and children among passengers stuck on coaches for hours.
Ferry operators DFDS, Irish Ferries and P&O are working with coach companies to spread travel across the three days from today to Saturday.
The Port says it is also installing extra temporary border control checks for coach passengers. French border control authorities will be providing a “full complement” of officials, it said.
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Port bosses are keen to avoid a repeat of the chaos over winter (PA)The Port added: “Coach and car drivers are being advised not to arrive early for sailings, so as to avoid unnecessary bottlenecks in the Dover area.”
Coach industry body the Confederation of Passenger Transport previously said that limiting the number of coaches allowed to use the port would be “an unacceptable and backward step”.
It comes ahead of an expected busy weekend for roads, trains and airports.
The RAC says drivers are set to take up to 17 million leisure trips this Easter bank holiday, mostly on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
The motoring group warned of long delays in parts of the south and west.
With planned engineering work on the railways, including the closure of London Euston station for the whole weekend, more people will be on the roads.
RAC breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “With many people keen to make the most of the double bank holiday this Easter weekend, we’re expecting the customary jams across parts of the road network to make this Good Friday a bad Friday for drivers.”
He said that was especially true for those planning longer journeys, adding: “Traffic volumes could be even higher if the sun chooses to make a welcome appearance.”
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