During this morning’s Transport Select Committee session examining travel disruption, the CEO of the Port of Dover, Doug Bannister, warned of the impact new EU border ID checks - the EU/Entry Exist System (EES) - could have in Dover and the wider South East.
Due to become operational from May next year, the EES will require drivers to physically get out of their vehicle in order to complete biometric border checks; slowing down the speed at which people can be processed. Mr Bannister raised concerns with the committee about the lack of information currently available as to how the new system will work, and concerns that its implementation could result in severe and ongoing disruption.
The committee was warned last year by Logistics UK that the EES could lead to 17-mile tailbacks at Dover, resulting in Operation Stack all over again for Kent.