Port of Dover will have new vehicle holding areas to combat gridlock

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy New holding areas are being secured to accommodate tourist vehicles bound for the continent, in a bid to prevent major disruptions when stricter border controls take effect this November. The designated holding areas will be located away from the main road network, according to a report inThe Times, and will serve as staging grounds for vehicles heading towards the UK’s busiest passenger port. “We continue to work with the councils, the European Union and our French counterparts to make sure we are as prepared as possible so we minimise the risk of long queues, particularly at peak travel times.” Work has already started to create a new holding and processing area at the Port of Dover in Granville Dock, an old cargo dock in the port’s Western area, according to The Times sources. The space is expected to occupy 175,000 square metres.­­­­ Last week the government announced port spending measures, in which the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone and Eurostar at St Pancras will each receive £3.5 million to help them take measures to deal with the new EES checks.