In a significant step to mitigate potential traffic chaos brought on by upcoming European border checks, Granville Dock in Dover has been transformed as part of an ongoing infilling project. The move is designed to reclaim land that will be used to check vehicles off-road, ensuring that routes to the port remain free from heavy congestion.
Recent photographs taken by Dover Strait Shipping, a news and photography group specialising in shipping and aviation, provide a glimpse into the extent of this transformation. Captured on Wednesday, the images have been described by group member Nigel Scutt as a “special sandpit edition,” highlighting the progress of the works being undertaken.
Mr Scutt provided details on the project’s advancement, saying, “They clearly show the good progress made so far on the infilling works. Gateway, a dredger, was busy pumping the aggregate ashore, with the discharge pipe fairly close to the old marina office building, into Granville Dock.” The once leisure boat-filled marina is now an expansive sea of sand surrounding the old marina office, which finds itself cut off amidst the ongoing construction.
As the sand steadily comes ashore, there is visible activity around the site. Mr Scutt mentioned observing “suction excavation going on in what was once the boatyard,” offering a snapshot of the detailed work taking place across the area.
The strategic infilling, ordered by the Port of Dover authority, comes as part of measures to prevent potential gridlocks resulting from the anticipated new border checks. Predictions suggested that without these preparations, the time taken to complete the new checks could lead to delays as long as 14 hours.
Earlier this year in March, the port’s authorities laid out plans for the project. Granville Dock is set to be the location for car checks, while the old boatyard will serve as the designated area for coach inspections. These modifications are further supported by a £45 million government Levelling Up grant awarded last year, intended to alleviate any potential gridlock in the area. An additional £3.5 million was allocated by the Department for Transport in September.
The new EU border rules, under the Entry/Exit System (EES), aim to register entry and exit data of non-EU nationals, which post-Brexit now includes British citizens. The EES will replace manual passport stamps with biometric facial imaging and fingerprinting, which must be conducted in the presence of an officer. This change has sparked concerns about delays, with both Ashford Borough Council and Kent County Council warning parliament of the potential impact back in January, citing a “reasonable worst-case scenario” of 14-hour hold-ups at Dover.
The new border checks are currently set to come into force on 10th November. However, there are mounting predictions across national newspapers that the implementation may face delays. France, Germany, and the Netherlands have indicated they may not be prepared, advising the European Commission to consider a postponement. In response, Ylva Johansson, the EU’s home affairs commissioner, has suggested a contingency plan to delay the start until 17th November.
At present, roads leading to the ferry terminals at Dover are already prone to gridlock during peak travel periods, such as summer and Easter holidays. These hold-ups are often exacerbated by bad weather impacting ferry schedules, strikes in Calais, or staff shortages at border control points. Historically, such congestion has heavily affected the A2 and A20 routes leading to the Eastern Docks, with knock-on effects extending into key arterial routes within the town.
As the port works towards accommodating the new border procedures, the changes at Granville Dock represent a crucial step in ensuring the smooth flow of traffic and trade at one of the UK’s most important gateways to Europe.