This is ridiculous , I applied for my daughters on 3rd March and by 31st march still no progress so like you advised to do a fast track and take a withdrawal letter with me to the appointment (Monday 4th). The agent there tried to say they couldn’t help but I told them I was advised to do this (had to write a statement). She then agreed to process it and the fast track passport arrived 9 days later (today) – although I did have to ring daily to chase it as the Durham office only withdrew the original application Monday morning!