UK holiday delays make me ashamed, says Calais port boss

THE head of the port of Calais today said he is ashamed about the huge delays British holidaymakers have faced at Dover.

Jean-Marc Puissesseau, president of the Côte d’Opale Chamber of Commerce, which runs the port, insisted he would complain to the French authorities about the failure to prepare for increased border checks.

Delays for travellers heading towards the Channel crossing have eased but motorists have been warned to expect some disruption for weeks to come.

Holidaymakers faced hours on gridlocked roads near Dover this weekend and some spent the night in their cars as they tried in vain to reach the port.

At one s t a ge there were 1 2 - mil e tailbacks and people endured 15-hour waits.

Mr Puissesseau told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: “I am very ashamed of this situation. I am so sorry for the British passengers starting their holiday with so long wait because of control.”

He added: “When we know that there will be big traffic, as it was yesterday because it was starting holidays, it should be organised.

“And if the French police is obliged now to control because of all the terrorism we are facing, I can understand it but what I cannot understand is that they don’t put enough policeman to control.

“I can tell you when I finish the call with you I will call the Home Office and tell them it is unacceptable.”

Asked whether the delays could be revenge for the Brexit vote, he said: “I hope not.” He added that he will “make so big pressure” to prevent the delays from happening again.

Police said the disruption was down to a “vast volume of holiday traffic” coupled with delays caused by heightened security at the border in the wake of terror attacks.

Increased checks were put in place by French authorities at the port but questions have been raised about staffing levels to deal with the huge number of people travelling at this time.

UK Border Force officials have since been drafted in to work with French border police.