Operation Stack misery: 15 days and counting

Operation Stack is now in effect for the 15th consecutive day today.

The operation, in which parts of the M20 coastbound are closed to allow lorries heading to the Port of Dover to queue, has not been in place constantly over that time, but has been implemented at some point every day.

The main cause has been a strike by SeaFrance officers which has meant the ferry operator has had to cancel its services.

A SeaFrance spokesman was unable to say when the action was likely to end.

The problems were exacerbated over the weekend by bad weather that caused the Port of Dover to close.

At the moment only phase two is in place, meaning the coastbound motorway has been closed between junctions eight and nine.

A Kent Police spokesman said that although Stack had been "on and off" since February 28, it had been implemented every day.

She also warned that it may be necessary to implement Stack permanently until the strike is resolved.

She said: "There are contingency plans to allow Stack to be stood down if there is not a good need to keep it running."

It is the first time in its history that Stack has been in operation for more than three days in a row.

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