Drivers at the Port of Dover in south-east England were braced for further delays on Sunday after setbacks for thousands of holidaymakers on Friday and Saturday.
Queuing times at the port were expected to be cut to an hour on Sunday after motorists were forced to wait for up to six hours on the previous two days.
But despite the reduction in waiting times, a “critical incident” declared by the port on Friday remained in place on Sunday, and Highways England warned of “severe delays”.
Gridlocked roads, frustrated drivers and delayed trips prompted a war of words between British and French authorities.
The UK accused France of failing to put enough border officials on desks at Dover to process people heading across the Channel, but Paris said the problems were caused by the Brexit hangover.
The closure of most schools in England and Wales last week for the summer break set people on their way overseas. There have also been huge queues at airports including Heathrow, Manchester and Bristol.
The Port of Dover said traffic was flowing at normal rates on Sunday morning. Many drivers travelled through the night to reach the port before their scheduled Channel crossing.
“French border is fully manned and everything is flowing normally,” a spokesman said. “There will be queues but short term [less than 60 minutes] during the day.”
He said the port will “continue to issue the need to come prepared” when asked whether people should still ensure they have appropriate water, food and medical supplies with them if travelling.
In the early hours of Sunday, a tweet from the port said the “system brought in temporarily to manage excess traffic in the area had ended and traffic can proceed directly to the port”.
Shortly before 9.30am, the port said tourist traffic was “moving slowly” through border controls with an average waiting time of 60 minutes.
“Freight flows are freely flowing,” it added.
About 72,000 vehicles had been processed by port officials by Sunday and 200 miles of traffic had been cleared.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said as the problems ease at Dover he feared the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone — 13 miles away — could become the next point of congestion.
He said issues at these “two very key terminals” would cause disruption for countless passengers.
Many in Britain whose trips were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are keen to use up holidays vouchers.
The cost of living crisis has also added to the demand for travel as householders are uncertain if they will be able to afford to get away in the coming months.
“We’ve had lorries being stacked as part of Operation Brock on the M20 and the subsequent diversion now on to the A20,” Mr Cousens told Sky News. “They now meet each other at the terminal junction 11A and that is causing congestion.
“Our concern is that the Eurotunnel is now going to be the main problem of congestion, particularly in the south-east.”
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who is battling with Rishi Sunak to become the next Conservative leader and prime minister, blamed France.
On Saturday, Ms Truss said she had spoken to her French counterpart Catherine Colonna about the disruption.
“I was clear the French authorities have not put enough people on the border and we need to see action from then to resolve the terrible situation which travellers, including families, are facing,” Ms Truss said.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Meydan card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (PA) Group 1 US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,200m
8.50pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) Group 2 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh 185,000 2,000m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,200m
10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Ordinary Virtues: Moral Order in a Divided World by Michael Ignatieff
Harvard University Press
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
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Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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The years Ramadan fell in May
MATCH INFO
Southampton 0
Manchester City 1 (Sterling 16')
Man of the match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Liverpool v Bayern Munich, midnight (Wednesday), BeIN Sports
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
The view from The National
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The years Ramadan fell in May
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More coverage from the Future Forum
Brief scores:
Toss: South Africa, chose to field
Pakistan: 177 & 294
South Africa: 431 & 43-1
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Read more about the coronavirus
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
