British motorists heading to Europe could face waits of up to 14 hours at border controls later this year, MPs have been told.
Significant disruption could be caused under a new scheme set to launch in October at the Port of Dover and the surrounding areas.
Parliament’s European Scrutiny Committee has heard that long delays could be likely when the EU entry/exit system is introduced unless measures are taken.
Ashford Borough Council, which is responsible for Dover, told the committee that 14-hour queues were “a reasonable worst-case scenario” if plans go ahead.
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Queues at the Port of Dover could be worsened after October
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The new controls require people entering the European Union to register their fingerprints and a photograph alongside their passport.
The Port of Dover has been a frequent hotspot for long delays in the past as the Government deals with post-Brexit rules.
Measures like Operation Brock have been tested to ensure motorways in Kent can handle the delays in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Visit Kent, a tourist organisation in the area, expressed its concerns about the delays caused by the new system and the impact it would have on local businesses.
Sir Bill Cash, chair of the committee, said: “Queues of more than 14 hours, vehicles backed up along major roads, businesses starved of footfall: this evidence paints an alarming picture of the possible risks surrounding the entry-exit system’s implementation.
“Clearly, this policy could have a very serious impact, not only for tourists and travel operators but also for local businesses.
“I implore decision makers on both sides of the Channel to take note of this evidence.
“The scheme is due to be implemented in October; the clock is ticking, and these issues must be urgently addressed.”
Ashford Council warned that 14-hour delays at the port would see queues along the A20 and M20, blocking access to staff and tourist traffic at the Eurotunnel in Folkestone.
In response to the fears, Eurostar said tourists could see queues of more than an hour at peak times if upgrades are not introduced.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “On some of those scenarios, rightly we’re not going to get into hypotheticals about delays.
“But there are tried and tested contingency plans in place and a lot of work is managed by the Kent resilience forum so we will make sure we’re prepared and our focus remains on ensuring the scheme does not unnecessarily impact local communities or result in delays for travellers.
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“We are working very closely as you would expect with the French, with all the port authorities, to ensure that travellers and passengers do not experience unnecessary delays – that work continues.”
