Chaos at Calais: Hundreds of frustrated holidaymakers are stuck in six-hour queues trying to get to Dover amid Border Force strikes
- Border Force staff are on strike until February 20 at ports in the UK and France
- Brits travelling home after the half term holidays are facing serve delays
Hundreds of frustrated holidaymakers have found themselves stuck in six-hour queues trying to get to Dover amid a series of Border Force strikes.
Border Force staff in Calais, Dunkirk, Dover and the Coquelles Channel Tunnel terminal have caused a ‘nightmare of UK passport control’ as a result of their four-day strike over pay.
P&O Ferries announced that it is taking six-and-a-half hours for coaches to be processed from arrival at the ferry terminal in Calais for Dover.
They have advised passengers to use the toilet before arriving and to come prepared with refreshments as it is expected to be a long wait for those travelling.
The Home Office said it was working to minimise delays during this busy period.
Hundreds of frustrated holidaymakers have found themselves stuck in six-hour queues trying to get to Dover as a result of ‘nightmare’ Border Force strikes
Half-term holidaymakers are facing delays on the way back into the UK as a result of planned strike action by Border Force staff
A number of schools reported issues returning from trips on Saturday as parents complained on social media that their children had been stuck at Calais for hours.
Some said their children had been waiting to board a ferry as early as 8.30am, but were still on the French side by the afternoon.
One mother tweeted it had been a ‘gruelling trip’ for her daughter, saying: ‘Thirty hour journey last week travelling to Austria due to delays and 23 hrs since leaving Austria they are still stuck at Calais! Arrived at about 10.30 this morning.
‘Fingers crossed they can get on the 10.45pm! It’s a good job she had a fab time!’
Another parent said: ‘Although I’m all for strike action, she (my daughter) is not coping well with the delay at Calais. Been travelling since 6pm yesterday and at Calais since noon.’
One woman tweeted: ‘Is there any further update on the delay time for coaches at Calais?
‘My son is returning from a school trip and has been on the coach at the port since 8.30am.’
Following posts made on social media, it is believed that the intense volume of families and coaches bringing students home from half-term trips abroad.
A Twitter account for Heathside School’s, Surrey, skiing trip took to social media to share their annoyance with the long wait
A Twitter account for Heathside School from Surrey’s skiing trip took to social media to share their annoyance with the incredibly long queue times.
They wrote: ‘Coach B have managed to get on the 12:35pm crossing and Coach A are booked onto the 1:55pm crossing after what can only be described as a nightmare of UK passport control.’
Wellsway School in Bristol tweeted that students returning from a ski trip had missed their scheduled ferry from Calais due to the long queues for passport control, while Langley Park School for Girls in Bromley, south-east London, said they were making ‘very slow progress’ at the port.
DFDS Ferries said coach passengers should expect six-hour delays at Calais due to ‘high volumes of traffic’.
Tim Shires, another unhappy traveller, wrote on Twitter: ‘Been sat here 4 hours already… still about another 6-8 hours of queues ahead.
‘Don’t think I’m gonna make it to Sunderland in time for kick off’.
Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union working at French ports began industrial action over pay on Friday, with strikes due to continue until Monday morning.
A PCS spokesperson said: ‘While we sympathise with travellers experiencing delays, the blame lies squarely with the Government. Rishi Sunak has had months to resolve this dispute but refuses to meet us’
Border staff began their walkout yesterday morning – where the warnings of significant delays for travellers first began.
The military, civil servants and volunteers had been trained to step in, keep borders safe and minimise disruption.
A PCS spokesperson said: ‘While we sympathise with travellers experiencing delays, the blame lies squarely with the Government. Rishi Sunak has had months to resolve this dispute but refuses to meet us. He can end the strikes tomorrow if he puts some money on the table.
‘Until he does, our strikes will continue because it is unacceptable that hard-working civil servants are being told to accept just a 2% pay rise during a cost-of-living crisis when inflation is at 10%.’
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: ‘Ministers say their priority is security – it obviously isn’t.
Read More: Now Border Force staff join ambulance workers in fresh strikes
‘They say they have no money to give our hard-working members a fair pay rise, but then find money to pay non-striking workers a healthy bonus, to pay for their transport across the country and to pay for four nights’ hotel accommodation.
‘If ministers were serious about security, they would resolve this dispute immediately by putting money on the table to ensure fully-trained, experienced professionals are guarding our borders.’
A spokesperson said: ‘The queues at the Port of Calais today are not due to industrial action. Border Force operations there remain fluid with all booths open and no significant wait times.
‘Border Force and port operators are working hard to ensure all travellers have a safe and secure journey, however, we have been clear those entering the UK should expect disruption during strike action.
‘We continue to work closely with port operators at a local and national level to minimise delays.
‘Those travelling into the UK today should keep up-to-date with the latest advice from operators to check how the strike action will affect their journey’.
Steve Dann Border Force Chief Operating Officer said: ‘It is disappointing for travellers that yet again strike action may cause disruption for those entering the UK. Border Force’s number one priority to is keep our citizens safe and borders secure.
‘We are working together with partners across the travel industry and our French counterparts to ensure we can continue to meet critical demand and support the flow of passengers and goods through our border.
‘During the periods of industrial action, travellers should be prepared for disruption. We encourage everyone to check the latest advice from operators before travelling.’
Car traffic was delayed by up to an hour at Calais earlier on Saturday, but had cleared by the evening.
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