Brits who are travelling to France by ferry over Easter have been warned they could face “delays” this bank holiday weekend. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated its travel advice for the country.
Thousands of passengers endured long waits at the Port of Dover over the weekend, with some stranded for up to 24 hours. Although the queues cleared by Monday morning, congestion could return during peak travel periods as French border controls carry out extra checks and stamp UK passports following Brexit.
Downing Street acknowledged that “new processes” introduced following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union contributed to the disruption, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said “of course Brexit has had an impact”. With the bank holiday weekend approaching the FCDO has advised UK travellers to be prepared for delays and make sure they have enough food and water with them.
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The FCDO said: “There is a possibility of delays over the Easter bank holiday weekend as high levels of cross-channel traffic on all routes are expected. Check for the latest information with your travel operator, including their advice on how early you should arrive at the terminal.
“Where possible, you should make sure you have a confirmed booking before you travel and ensure you are fully prepared for your trip with enough food and water.”
The FCDO has also warned holidaymakers of ongoing strike action in France, with “spontaneous protests” regularly taking place in central Paris and elsewhere in France. It said: “Some protests have turned violent. The protests may lead to disruptions to road travel.”
It said that coordinated strike action and large-scale demonstrations were planned for April 6, and could start the evening before the strike day and may last for “several days”. The FCDO advised passengers to check with their operators for the latest advice before travelling and to avoid any demonstrations.
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