The port of Dover in England continues today with long queues of vehicles crossing the English Channel, so authorities are asking passengers to arrive four hours early, reports Efe.
Difficulties crossing into France have already led British and French officials to exchange accusations, with the British accusing Paris of not preparing and the French blaming ‘Brexit’.
“Please, there is heavy traffic at border control at Dover port. If you are booked to travel today, please allow 3-4 hours less security,” Shipping asked on its Twitter account. The company is P&O Ferries, which ensures that all ticketed passengers board the first vessel to depart upon ‘check-in’.
According to Efe, around 3,000 trucks are estimated to be parked on the M20, the main road in south-east England that provides access to the port of Dover.
Port of Dover chairman Doug Bannister admitted in a statement to the BBC that today, the first day of school holidays in England, was expected to be a “very busy day”.
Bannister blamed Friday for not sending enough border police to expedite border controls, which he said had already been done today and was unlikely to happen again. Friday traffic jams.
However, the officer warned that traffic was still easing on Friday and a “large number” of trucks on the M20 could make movement difficult.
In recent hours, officials on both sides of the English Channel exchanged accusations, with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss strongly criticizing Dover’s delays and urging the French government to “take action” to end the long lines.
“This terrible situation should have been completely preventable and is unacceptable. France must strengthen its capacity at the border to limit future disruptions to British tourists and to ensure that this terrible situation is avoided in the future,” Efe quotes.
On the French side, Deputy Commissioner of Calais Pierre-Henri Dumont considered these traffic jams to be “a consequence of ‘Brexit'” and likely to recur in the short to medium term.
Dumont lamented that the port of Dover was too small and that there were few posts for border guards due to lack of space.
On the French side, there was no delay in crossing the English Channel.
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