‘Worst it’s ever been’: travellers bemoan gridlock at Dover port

theguardian.com:

Barbara and Zeger Degroot picked the Isle of Wight over the Alps for their summer holiday this year as they wanted a shorter drive from their home in the Netherlands. With one child in the back, one in the front and two – including a newborn baby – in the middle, it had seemed like a wise option – until they encountered six-hour queues at Dover port on their way back.

“It’s not ideal,” said Barbara, adding that they had been on the road since 6.30am on Friday and did not expect to arrive home until late at night after missing their noon ferry, and were still stuck in queues outside the main port area at nearly 2pm.

Zeger said the family had received a message suggesting they arrive four hours in advance of their sailing. “We thought: ‘Haha, it’s not the airport’ – but it’s true.”

He said he had resorted to debating favourite ice-creams from the holiday to keep the children entertained (a rainbow Cornetto emerged the winner).

The Degroots were just one of many groups of passengers queuing for Dover port on Friday who shared with the Guardian their feelings of boredom and exasperation that they had spent part of their holidays in what felt like an interminable queue for the ferry as the authorities declared a “critical incident” amid the biggest summer getaway in years.

Most had left their homes in the early hours of the morning planning to catch ferries before noon, but were still stuck in queues by early afternoon, hoping to catch a later boat. Local residents were also frustrated, having to spend up to an hour in traffic to travel short distances.

Dover port authorities have blamed understaffing at French border control for the delay.

Valdis Filks travels from the UK, where he is from, to Sweden, where he lives, one or two