French Authorities Suspend Extra EU Border Checks at Dover
French authorities have suspended additional European Union border checks at Dover following extensive queues experienced by thousands of holidaymakers at the port during soaring temperatures.
The port authorities reported escalating the "challenging situation" with border officials, and stated that this suspension would assist in alleviating queues at the terminal and reduce congestion on the surrounding roadways.
Earlier on Saturday morning, travellers encountered delays of up to two hours just to reach the port, followed by an additional wait of up to two and a half hours to complete processing at the terminal.
By midday, traffic was described as "slow moving" with processing times at check-in reduced to under an hour, according to the port. Shortly after 14:00, the port confirmed that traffic was "free-flowing".
The May bank holiday is being regarded as a significant test for the implementation of new European Union border checks.
Before boarding cross-Channel ferries at Dover, travellers are required to undergo French border checks.
Under the EU's new digital Entry/Exit System (EES), biometric checks including fingerprinting and facial recognition are scheduled to be introduced for non-EU travellers.
Although French authorities have not yet activated the biometric machines at the port, border officials at Dover were still collecting traveller details to input into a database, which contributed to extended waiting times over the weekend.
With the suspension of these additional measures, traffic delays are beginning to ease. Standard border checks remain in place.
The EES will eventually be operational at all border crossings across the 29 participating countries within the Schengen Area.
The port confirmed that passengers who miss their ferry crossing due to waiting times will be accommodated on the next available crossing.
Port of Dover CEO Doug Bannister told the BBC that the port expected to process over 8,000 cars on Saturday.
"84 kiosks had been installed to accommodate the new digital system and handle these peak volumes efficiently and safely," Bannister said.
However, he also expressed frustration with the morning's processing delays.
"Despite having assurances from authorities, from our government, from the French around how this would work it really was slow processing this morning," Bannister stated. "I think we're all quite frustrated."
LeShuttle also reported delays of approximately one and a half hours on train services between Folkestone and Calais, citing longer processing times at the border.
This situation coincides with forecasts for an unusually hot May bank holiday in the UK.
Temperatures are expected to continue rising on Saturday following the warmest day of the year recorded on Friday, with highs of 28.4°C at Heathrow in west London, Cranwell in Lincolnshire, and Cambridge.
Daytime temperatures are forecast to reach the upper 20s Celsius in many regions, with some areas likely to experience temperatures in the low 30s Celsius during the upcoming week.
Amber heat health alerts are currently in effect for parts of England, with temperatures predicted to climb above 30°C over the weekend. The May temperature record stands at 32.8°C.
