Tipped faversham this evening, and told to ship out if dover. No problem there, so down the a2 we go to the port where I get stopped at the entry roundabout by a helpful policeman and told to go to the top of round hill tunnel(a20) and join the que. Access is no longer allowed from the a2. After much chat with the very helpful officer I proceeded back out of dover and headed up the hill. Now, the officer informed me that if you don’t enter through the a20 you can’t gain entry to the port, there’s now traffic lights and I’m led to believe cameras(anpr) , I saw the que and called it a day on the motis lorry park, in the morning do I need to go up to round hill to come back just to gain entry or can I go straight in and book in as normal without the risk of being buggered off ?
Is there a problem with the port at the moment as that is normal procedure when op stack is on? Went out through dover on Thursday morning and there is a 40 mph restriction on the A20 from the tunnels to the port and a new set of lights on the A20 at the roundabout before Dover. Asked the guy when I was booking on what the craic with it was and he said it to stop the queues forming in Dover when there is a problem with the boats.
If Stack is on then obviously they only want lorries coming from one direction and that has to be from the M20 and A20. But if this is a new permanent arrangement it doesn’t make sense to me, approaching from the A2 and Jubilee Way keeps you clear of the town. Use the A20 and you have to go through the edge of it.
Although a bit late for you at faversham the matrix signs on the a2 around gravesend do say Hgv Dover port via m20 A20 been up for a week or so
PORT OF DOVER - NEW A20 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME
New traffic management measures are being assessed on the A20 approach to the Port of Dover to regulate traffic when the Port is busy, reduce the likelihood of queuing traffic forming through Dover and to address the impact that the growing economy is having on the Port’s customers and the local community.
How it works
At busy times, if the Port of Dover is nearing capacity for check in, operations staff will use traffic lights on the A20 just outside of Dover to hold freight and/or tourist vehicles until space becomes available. Traffic will be released in batches to match the space available and therefore keep local traffic and Dover moving.
There is currently a 40mph speed limit from the Western Heights roundabout through Dover and this has been extended to Roundhill Tunnel at Folkestone to promote safety for the duration of the assessment.
The traffic signals will be in use in periods roughly three days per week and incorporate a vehicle number plate recognition system so that only freight vehicles that have been through the signals are accepted by the Port.
Cars, light vehicles and coaches heading for Dover Town Centre will still be able to use the A20. Lane 2 is available exclusively for their use when the traffic signals are in operation, or they can use the B2011.
Local freight vehicles do not have to go through the A20 signals if that would not be their natural route. Freight vehicles that have passed through the signals and are parking at MOTIS in the Western Docks do not then have to go back through the signals before heading to the ferry terminal. These will be given a date stamped card.
Just came down a2 no problems only policeman there when busy at easter the q for the port was back to the tunnel on a20 think all hgvs have to use inside lane
Could it be because of the delays caused by the new passport checks?
I’ll be coming in from Whitfield down Jubilee Way on Sunday to catch the 12.00 noon boat to Dunkirk.
Will this system affect me? I’m not very familiar with Dover.
I went to Dover for the boat on Monday afternoon. There is a speed limit in place, there are 2 lanes, 1 dedicated for LGV. There were no passport checks, and they have done away with the scales. They are reliant on the driver declaring gross weight at check in with CMR’s.
IndigoJo:
Could it be because of the delays caused by the new passport checks?
No passports have always been checked where you book on ferry so makes no difference
emmerson2:
I’ll be coming in from Whitfield down Jubilee Way on Sunday to catch the 12.00 noon boat to Dunkirk.
Will this system affect me? I’m not very familiar with Dover.
If approaching from a2 you should go straight in unless busy then you could get sent up to a island but that time of day it should be fine
Bank holiday nxt week socwill get busy again about mid week
cheers Hanson
It appears that the UK have now dropped the requirement for all vehicles to pass over a weighbridge before being loaded onto a ferry, at the time it seemed like a knee jerk reaction especially as the HOFE was leaving Zeebrugge where they didn’t weigh them and still don’t, nor do they in Calais or Europoort
Background
The HERALD OF FREE ENTERPRISE
(HOFE) disaster happened on 6 March 1987 and resulted in 188 deaths. The bow doors of the vessel were inadvertently left open as the vessel set sail from port allowing water to enter the car deck which caused the vessel to capsize. A Formal Investigation was held from 27 April to 12 June 1987 and a number of recommendations were made for immediate implementation which related to the loading and stability of the ship, and measures for saving lives in an emergency.
Regulations introduced following the immediate recommendations includedThe Merchant Shipping (Weighing of Goods Vehicles and other Cargo) (Amendment) Regulations 1989)
apply to certain UK Ro-Ro passenger ships and require the weighing of all road vehicles (except buses) and all non-vehicular items of cargo exceeding 7.5 tonnes for all voyages on which passengers are carried. Subject to certain exceptions (a certificate of weight must be held), cargo must be weighed at the port at which the ship is to be loaded. The weighing machine must be certified, and operated in accordance with the conditions laid down by an inspector of weights and measures. In addition, the shipper must provide the master of the ship with specific cargo weight details prior to the voyage.
As well as anpr there are speed camera vans
focusdiy:
As well as anpr there are speed camera vans