Dover Drivers Face ‘Car Stacking’ Chaos as New EU Rules Kick In
Motorists heading to Dover could soon be rerouted to “car stacking” sites while waiting to board ferries. This move aims to stop gridlock at the UK’s busiest port when fresh EU entry rules start this November.
New EU Entry System Spurs Traffic Jams
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) requires non-EU travellers to have fingerprints and photos taken on arrival in the Schengen zone. To manage the expected bottleneck, the UK government is prepping overflow zones away from main roads to hold extra cars. These “car stacking” sites may include field areas with matting to handle vehicle queues efficiently.
Granville Dock Conversion Delayed — Christmas Travel at Risk
Work has already begun converting Granville Dock, an unused cargo area at Dover, into a huge checkpoint zone covering space equal to five football pitches. But insiders warn this won’t be ready before the big Xmas travel rush, with Easter now the earliest launch date.
French Approval Needed as Border Checks Tighten
French authorities who perform checks on UK soil must give the green light for these stacking zones. Passengers will face tougher scrutiny, including queries on visit purpose, length, finances, and proof of return.
Meanwhile, Channel Tunnel users will register at a separate terminal in Folkestone, which is expected to see less congestion thanks to more space.
£10.5 Million Boost for Ports as Staff Scramble to Prepare
The government has handed £3.5 million each to the Port of Dover, Folkestone’s Eurotunnel, and Eurostar’s St Pancras hub to get ready for the changes. But some port workers have yet to see the tech they’ll need to process travellers.
Seema Malhotra, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, said: “The new stacking sites are kept under review as a contingency plan. We’re working closely with local councils, the EU, and French authorities to avoid long queues during peak times.”
Motorists should brace for delays and keep up to date on travel changes as the EES system rolls out.
