Gridlock at Dover as lorries wait for disrupted ferry services
Motorists are facing huge queues and gridlocked roads into Dover after a buildup of lorries waiting for disrupted ferry services at the Kent port.
Drivers are reporting queueing in traffic for hours to board ferries, while part of the M20 is being used to park lorries. The disruption is being caused by a shortage of ferries and poor weather conditions.
Under Operation Brock, the traffic management system designed to deal with the queues of trucks heading for mainland Europe, the eastbound side of the road is open only for freight between junctions eight and nine. The London-bound side of the road remains open to all traffic.
The system, which was created under emergency powers following Brexit, was meant to expire in October 2021, but has since been made permanent.
The traffic chaos, which began on Friday, has prevented local residents from being able to drive to the shops or to work, according to Kent Online. Drivers faced miles of queues on Friday on the M2 and M20.
The delays come as P&O Ferries services have been reduced at the port, after the company sacked nearly 800 workers without notice last month. The firm laid off 786 crew on British contracts issued out of Jersey in March. Criminal and civil investigations have been launched into the operator’s conduct, and it has not yet been granted permission to continue sailing to France staffed by cheaper agency workers.
The Port of Dover said in a statement: “The main approach roads to the port are currently very busy. The ongoing impact of the lack of any P&O services continues to affect remaining ferry operations with the commencement of the Easter getaway period.
“Operators are working hard to process the traffic, clear local congestion and get people on their way as
Read more on theguardian.com
