Worst time to travel for summer holiday as Dover ferry passengers are warned of massive delays at port this weekend
THE worst time to travel over the summer holidays has been revealed as Dover Ferry passengers are warned of massive delays at the port this weekend.
Holidaymakers looking to set sail from the port are being warned to expect chaos.
As schools get ready to break-up for the next six weeks, many will be heading to Dover in an attempt to get away.
However, since Brexit, French border controls have delayed their processing times – leaving thousands of Brits backlogged.
Port bosses have now said they have done everything they can to minimise the queues this year.
Despite this, chief executive Doug Bannister said during peak times of 6am until 1pm it could take nearly three hours to get through.
He said: “When passengers arrive at the Port of Dover, they will be processed through border controls – anticipated to take around 90 minutes on peak days.
“However, our modelling indicates that processing times may be up to two-and-a-half hours during the peak hours of 6am to 1pm during the first couple of Saturdays and Sundays of the summer holidays, due to the extreme popularity of these days.
“We care about every passenger that chooses to travel via the Port of Dover and have worked hard to ensure the best experience possible as they transit through on their summer holidays.”
The exec said his staff have done “everything we possibly can” to minimise delays during busier times.
He added: “People would anticipate if they’re travelling at very popular times on very busy days there will be some queuing.
“We can’t plan for unforeseen circumstances such as technical issues, industrial action or road traffic accidents on the approaches into the port.
“If these happen that could throw us some more challenges.
“What Dover has demonstrated time and time again is that we can be very resilient in our operations and clear the disruption very quickly.”
It comes after kids were left physically ill after being stuck on coaches for hours during the Easter rush this year.
The port declared a critical incident after “lengthy” hold-ups at French border controls saw families at a standstill for 15 hours.