Tourists could face 14-hour queues to enter Europe under post-Brexit scheme

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Post-Brexit guidelines imply Britons travelling to Europe could face waits of 14 hours or extra at border management, MPs have heard.

Parliament’s European Scrutiny Committee heard that the Port of Dover and the encircling space could be hit by main disruption when the EU Entry-Exit System launches except measures are launched to forestall delays.

The committee was informed by Ashford Borough Council that 14-hour queues have been a “reasonable worst case” state of affairs if the scheme have been to be applied as deliberate in October

The new controls will imply folks coming into the EU may have to register their fingerprints and {a photograph} alongside their passport.

The Port of Dover and surrounding roads have seen a number of episodes of gridlocked site visitors over the previous few years, with post-Brexit checks including to ready instances.

Tourist organisation Visit Kent voiced considerations that delays attributable to the brand new system could have a knock-on impact on native companies, which has been the case throughout earlier durations of disruption.

Ashford Council warned that 14-hour delays on the port will seemingly see queues alongside the A20 and M20, which could block entry to employees and vacationer site visitors at Eurotunnel in Folkestone.

Eurostar mentioned that with out upgrades, terminals could see queues of greater than an hour at peak instances.

High Speed 1, which runs UK high-speed rail providers, mentioned that the choice not to allow on-line pre-registration would “put enormous pressure on infrastructure at St Pancras International”.

Downing Street downplayed the chance of such prolonged delays.

“I’m not aware of that being something that will happen,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman mentioned.

Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, Sir Bill Cash, mentioned: “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 this year; the clock is ticking, and these issues must be urgently addressed.”