The town of Dover is facing severe traffic congestion, with thousands of cars and freight lorries causing “huge chaos” as they try to leave the country via the port and LeShuttle in Folkestone. The traffic issues have been ongoing, with residents and business owners facing delays of up to three hours at the weekend. Toby Howe, highways and transportation strategic manager for Kent County Council, described the situation as “like herding cats,” highlighting the challenges of managing tourist traffic that is pouring into an already full Port of Dover.
According to Howe, the issues are caused by tourist traffic pouring into an already full Port of Dover, causing backlogs. The situation is further complicated by Operation Brock, which is holding lorries and causing additional delays. Travellers were also warned of 90-minute processing times at the French border during check-in, adding to the frustration. The traffic congestion has had a significant impact on residents and business owners in Dover, who are calling for better measures to ease the delays.
Dover District Council leader Kevin Mills has said that the continuing traffic issues are “not acceptable” and has called for better measures, including a lorry park, to help ease delays. However, Howe has expressed concerns that creating a lorry park on the now-defunct Sevington Inland Border Facility would “create a huge bottleneck” and would not stop tourist traffic issues. Instead, he believes that the government needs to find a solution to hold and manage the traffic to alleviate the suffering of Kent and Dover.
A Department for Transport spokesperson has acknowledged the impact of Operation Brock on residents and has stated that the government is working closely with partners to improve safety, reduce local impacts, and develop longer-term traffic management solutions. This could include using technology and off-road sites for holding HGVs when there is disruption on the short straits. While the government is taking steps to address the issue, residents and business owners in Dover are still facing significant challenges and are calling for more effective solutions.
