Port of Dover reopens but Operation Stack remains in place

Police are warning of a weekend of motoring misery on Kent's roads.

Operation Stack is still in force on the M20 between junctions 8 and 9. Officers warn disruption is likely to cause problems for those trying to reach the Kent County Show.

The Port of Dover remains open for business with a full service operating to the Port of Calais with P&O Ferries and a full service operating to Dunkerque with DFDS Seaways.

Due to the disruption earlier in the week at the Channel Tunnel, the on-going situation at the Port of Calais and high volumes of freight traffic seeking to use all the Channel Ports, the Port of Dover would like to advise its passengers about potential traffic congestion on the M20.

All coastbound freight traffic is being directed to join the back of the queue at junction 8 (Hollingbourne). Any lorries approaching the ports without an Operation Stack ticket will be directed to the back of the queue at junction 8.

Non-freight traffic is being directed to come off the M20 coastbound at junction 8 to join the A20 and should follow the yellow circle diversion route. Alternative routes are expected to be busy so please allow plenty of time for your journey.

Tourist traffic heading for the Port of Dover is advised to use the A2/M2 route, but please allow plenty of time for your journey.

Traffic is flowing and the Port and the ferry operators are working hard to serve all customers travelling to and from the continent. We apologise for any delays or inconvenience as a result of the traffic congestion and we would like to reassure our local community we are playing our part to keep traffic, Dover and the UK economy moving.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely, but this issue affects us all and together with all partners are working hard in order to resume normal operations as soon as possible.

Phase 2 of Operation Stack has now been lifted having been re-implemented earlier this morning due to disruption at the French side of the channel tunnel.

The M20 is fully re-open.

There may still be residual delays in the area while the road network returns to normal.

Operation Stack phase 2 (M20 closed coast-bound junctions 8 to 9) has been implemented due to disruption at the Channel Tunnel. Eurotunnel services are therefore affected.

NO ferry traffic is being held in Operation Stack and the Port of Dover remains open for business with a full service operating to the Port of Calais with P&O Ferries and a full service operating to Dunkerque with DFDS Seaways.

Customers are still advised to contact their chosen ferry operator before travelling.

The Port of Dover remains open as normal with regular sailings following a series of industrial action in France.

As the Port of Calais continues to operate two berths only, P&O Ferries continues to run a full service to Calais, whilst DFDS Seaways operates a full service to Dunkerque, with an additional vessel diverted to the route to help accommodate heavy traffic.

Thousands of water bottles are being handed out to lorry drivers that are stuck on the M20 in the scorching temperatures.

Coastguards are working with police and volunteers to make sure motorists are coping in the heat.

Kent County Council is working with partners to provide humanitarian assistance to drivers caught up in Operation Stack.

KCC staff provided 2,000 bottles of water and 750 snack meals yesterday and has another 5,000 bottles plus 200 meals due to be issued today.

While KCC has led the collection of provisions, Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue Service, with support of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, will distribute them along the closed stretch of M20.

Help has also been provided by the Red Cross and three voluntary sector vehicles who were commissioned by KCC to attend certain nearby locations off the motorway and deliver tea, coffee and snacks.

KCC Senior Resilience Officer Steve Scully said: “These arrangements are part of the ongoing responsibilities of KCC during an emergency. We’d like to thank our partners for helping us to deliver the items and to Tesco for providing thousands of bottles of water.”

Freight drivers entering Stack will not immediately need any welfare provided, depending on weather conditions and they are urged to ensure they are properly self-equipped with food and water.

Lorry drivers can be seen playing football as hundreds of vehicles are parked along the M20 in Kent.

Operation Stack continues for miles on what is thought to be the UK's hottest day of the year.

Five thousand bottles of water and two hundred meals are being given to drivers as the operation enters its third day.

The heavy traffic is being caused by Calais closure for industrial action.

Richard Burnett from the Road Haulage Association spoke to ITV News Meridian earlier today.