Stranded truckers fume as they wait to leave UK after COVID blockade

[snoop1130]

Stranded truckers fume as they wait to leave UK after COVID blockade

By Peter Nicholls and Gerry Mey

 

Drivers stand in front of a truck as they block one of the exit lanes at the Port of Dover, as EU countries impose a travel ban from the UK following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Dover, Britain, December 23, 2020. REUTERS/John Sibley

 

DOVER, England (Reuters) - Furious truck drivers scuffled with police and sounded their horns in protest around the English port of Dover as a partial blockade by France designed to contain a highly infectious coronavirus variant has stranded thousands before Christmas.

 

Paris and London agreed late on Tuesday that drivers carrying a negative test result could board ferries for Calais from Wednesday after much of the world shut its borders to Britain to contain the new mutated variant.

 

A British minister said the military would start testing drivers but he warned that it would take time to clear the backlog, hammering Britain's most important trade route for food just days before it leaves the European Union's orbit.

 

Huge queues of trucks have been stacked on a motorway towards the Eurotunnel Channel Tunnel and Dover in the southeast county of Kent, while others have been parked on the former nearby airport at Manston.

 

With no sign of traffic to the European mainland resuming and confusion over how to get a coronavirus test, TV footage showed drivers honking their truck horns and flashing lights in unison in protest.

 

As tempers flared in Dover, there were brief scuffles between a small number of police officers and drivers, many who do not speak English and are angry that they will not be able to get home to their families before Christmas.

 

"This is not how it should work. We have no information, the people need to be fetching information," Mekki Coskun from Dortmund in Germany, told Reuters. "No information ... they get worried."

 

Police said there had been disturbances in Dover and Manston "involving individuals hoping to cross the Channel" and one arrest had been made.

 

The Road Haulage Association, which estimated there were up to 10,000 trucks being held up in Kent, said the situation was chaos as the testing system was not yet ready.

 

"The border is still closed, the testing regime isn't happening yet, you've got truckers very angry and we're starting to see a breakdown in law and order in a small way among very frustrated guys who want to get back by Christmas," Rod McKenzie, managing director of policy for the RHA, said.

 

Normally between 7,500-8,500 trucks travel via the port every day but volumes have reached more than 10,000 recently.

 

FURTHER BREXIT DISRUPTION

 

Some of the extra traffic was a result of Christmas demand, but many were in the country to deliver goods to companies who are stockpiling parts before Britain finally leaves the EU on Dec. 31, a move that is expected to cause further disruption in January when a full customs border comes into force.

 

The British Retail Consortium, an industry lobby group, warned that until the backlog of trucks was cleared and supply chains returned to normal, there could be issues with the availability of some fresh goods.

 

Logistics firms have also said that many European drivers had already refused to come to Britain in the new year when they would have to carry customs paperwork, and the need to secure a coronavirus test will further compound the situation, pushing up freight prices.

 

British Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said he hoped Channel crossings would resume on Wednesday morning, with the armed forces setting up the testing infrastructure.

 

Officials have warned truck drivers not to come to Kent despite the border reopening, and that none should travel to Dover or the Eurotunnel site without being tested for the coronavirus first.

 

Drivers will first take a rapid lateral flow test. Anyone who records a positive result will take a more comprehensive PCR test, which takes longer to secure a result, and anyone testing positive again will be given a hotel room to isolate.

 

The mostly European drivers, many stranded with their trucks and without access to hot food or bathroom facilities, have grown increasingly irate, with many believing they are pawns in a political standoff between Britain and the EU as trade talks reach a climax.

 

"We don't have food to eat, we don't have drink, we don't have anything, nobody ... cares about us," said Stella Vradzheva a driver from Sterlcha in Bulgaria.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-23

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[roo860]

Good! Well done Mr  Macron, I hope they make their feelings known when they dock in France. 

[fishtank]

Macron making new friends by the day.

[Tropicalevo]

I do not understand why they are angry with the Brits.

The French closed the border.

Mr Macron throwing his rattle out of the pram just because he likes British fish.

[billd766]

49 minutes ago, fishtank said:

Macron making new friends by the day.

With friends like Macron, who needs enemies. 

[evadgib]

COVID-19 testing for HGV drivers using the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel

Quote

How HGV drivers get their COVID-19 test before leaving the UK for France.

 

[RuamRudy]

Brexit was about taking back control of our borders, yet France can close theirs without a Frexit? How can that be? 

[Susco]

13 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

Brexit was about taking back control of our borders, yet France can close theirs without a Frexit? How can that be? 

 

France closed their borders to a non EU member, something you have voted for years ago

[asiacurious]

The new strain of Covid may be the cause du jour, but isn't this basically a trial run for what happens if Brexit hits and there is no deal because the UK decides to walk?

[RuamRudy]

5 minutes ago, Susco said:

 

France closed their borders to a non EU member, something you have voted for years ago

 

I certainly never voted for Brexit. But my point was that those campaigning for it said that, whilst in the EU, the UK did not have control over its own borders. As most EU countries have taken unilateral decisions to close their borders to the UK, disregarding requests from the EU, it demonstrates that EU member states do have control over their own borders. 

[Tug]

Talk about up the creek without a paddle poor guys are stuck a classic snafu hope they make it home soon!

[red roger]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Stranded truckers fume as they wait to leave UK after COVID blockade

By Peter Nicholls and Gerry Mey

 

Drivers stand in front of a truck as they block one of the exit lanes at the Port of Dover, as EU countries impose a travel ban from the UK following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Dover, Britain, December 23, 2020. REUTERS/John Sibley

 

DOVER, England (Reuters) - Furious truck drivers scuffled with police and sounded their horns in protest around the English port of Dover as a partial blockade by France designed to contain a highly infectious coronavirus variant has stranded thousands before Christmas.

 

Paris and London agreed late on Tuesday that drivers carrying a negative test result could board ferries for Calais from Wednesday after much of the world shut its borders to Britain to contain the new mutated variant.

 

A British minister said the military would start testing drivers but he warned that it would take time to clear the backlog, hammering Britain's most important trade route for food just days before it leaves the European Union's orbit.

 

Huge queues of trucks have been stacked on a motorway towards the Eurotunnel Channel Tunnel and Dover in the southeast county of Kent, while others have been parked on the former nearby airport at Manston.

 

With no sign of traffic to the European mainland resuming and confusion over how to get a coronavirus test, TV footage showed drivers honking their truck horns and flashing lights in unison in protest.

 

As tempers flared in Dover, there were brief scuffles between a small number of police officers and drivers, many who do not speak English and are angry that they will not be able to get home to their families before Christmas.

 

"This is not how it should work. We have no information, the people need to be fetching information," Mekki Coskun from Dortmund in Germany, told Reuters. "No information ... they get worried."

 

Police said there had been disturbances in Dover and Manston "involving individuals hoping to cross the Channel" and one arrest had been made.

 

The Road Haulage Association, which estimated there were up to 10,000 trucks being held up in Kent, said the situation was chaos as the testing system was not yet ready.

 

"The border is still closed, the testing regime isn't happening yet, you've got truckers very angry and we're starting to see a breakdown in law and order in a small way among very frustrated guys who want to get back by Christmas," Rod McKenzie, managing director of policy for the RHA, said.

 

Normally between 7,500-8,500 trucks travel via the port every day but volumes have reached more than 10,000 recently.

 

FURTHER BREXIT DISRUPTION

 

Some of the extra traffic was a result of Christmas demand, but many were in the country to deliver goods to companies who are stockpiling parts before Britain finally leaves the EU on Dec. 31, a move that is expected to cause further disruption in January when a full customs border comes into force.

 

The British Retail Consortium, an industry lobby group, warned that until the backlog of trucks was cleared and supply chains returned to normal, there could be issues with the availability of some fresh goods.

 

Logistics firms have also said that many European drivers had already refused to come to Britain in the new year when they would have to carry customs paperwork, and the need to secure a coronavirus test will further compound the situation, pushing up freight prices.

 

British Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said he hoped Channel crossings would resume on Wednesday morning, with the armed forces setting up the testing infrastructure.

 

Officials have warned truck drivers not to come to Kent despite the border reopening, and that none should travel to Dover or the Eurotunnel site without being tested for the coronavirus first.

 

Drivers will first take a rapid lateral flow test. Anyone who records a positive result will take a more comprehensive PCR test, which takes longer to secure a result, and anyone testing positive again will be given a hotel room to isolate.

 

The mostly European drivers, many stranded with their trucks and without access to hot food or bathroom facilities, have grown increasingly irate, with many believing they are pawns in a political standoff between Britain and the EU as trade talks reach a climax.

 

"We don't have food to eat, we don't have drink, we don't have anything, nobody ... cares about us," said Stella Vradzheva a driver from Sterlcha in Bulgaria.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-23

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Macron protecting his country borders.

Anyone pointing fingers of blame need only look to the shambles of no.10.

[puipuitom]

19 hours ago, fishtank said:

Macron making new friends by the day.

Yes, the 65 million French alone + B + NL+ he tries to protect from the English covid-strains.

Just send in the French, Belgium and Dutch army in with fast Covid-tests to get our truckers away there.

Edited December 24, 2020 by puipuitom

[puipuitom]

18 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

Brexit was about taking back control of our borders, yet France can close theirs without a Frexit? How can that be? 

Not only the French borders, but MANY !  Maybe too difficult for the British tabloids to understand ?

[puipuitom]

18 hours ago, evadgib said:

COVID-19 testing for HGV drivers using the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel

 

Ask why the English did not show up with a 10.000 fast corona tests. Problem could have been solved 24 h ago.

Edited December 24, 2020 by puipuitom

[CorpusChristie]

11 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

Ask why the English did not show up with a 10.000 fast corona tests. Problem could have been solved 24 h ago.

 

  Course it couldnt .

You expect 10 000 people to get get tested at the same time, all get their results and all get on a boat across the channel at the click of a finger  !!!!!!!! 

24 hours ago, the port wasnt even open for them to arrive in France 

  Just another Brit bashing post

[champers]

The queuing drivers and their passengers have no toilet or washing facilities, many have no access to food and drinks and they have just been left to their own devices by the Government. The army should have been mobilised setting up food kitchens and washrooms along with Covid testing. The Government has behaved shamelessly, poorly and they have demonstrated to the world how grossly incompetent they are.

[RuamRudy]

40 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

Not only the French borders, but MANY !  Maybe too difficult for the British tabloids to understand ?

 

France has always been England's bogeyman - I am not sure why that should be; maybe a sense of inferiority on the English side?

[CorpusChristie]

20 minutes ago, champers said:

The queuing drivers and their passengers have no toilet or washing facilities, many have no access to food and drinks and they have just been left to their own devices by the Government. The army should have been mobilised setting up food kitchens and washrooms along with Covid testing. The Government has behaved shamelessly, poorly and they have demonstrated to the world how grossly incompetent they are.

 

  I do think the French Government should have provided those for their fellow Countrymen

[soalbundy]

19 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

Brexit was about taking back control of our borders, yet France can close theirs without a Frexit? How can that be? 

The Eu sanctioned it, call it self defence against a new form of covid. 

[soalbundy]

 The lorry drivers should consider it as practice  if there is a no deal this will be the new normal. Lufthansa flew in 90 tons of perishable goods for Aldi and Tescos.

[stevenl]

18 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

 

  I do think the French Government should have provided those for their fellow Countrymen

Many of the truckers stuck are Eastern Europeans.

[RuamRudy]

10 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

The Eu sanctioned it, call it self defence against a new form of covid. 

 

I have only read articles which stated that countries have acted independently, and that the EU called for the ban to be lifted.

 

EU calls for end to UK travel ban despite Covid variant fears

 

"Brussels has called for an end to Europe’s sweeping travel bans on the UK sparked by fears of the new mutant strain of the coronavirus.

The European Commission issued a statement on Tuesday saying that while travel to and from the EU should be “discouraged” bans on movement should be lifted."

[CorpusChristie]

19 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

 The lorry drivers should consider it as practice  if there is a no deal this will be the new normal. Lufthansa flew in 90 tons of perishable goods for Aldi and Tescos.

 

  That would be an improvement , cut down on lorrys on the road , pollution and food gets to the UK fresher .

Hopefully it will be the new normal , get all the trucks off the road

[digger70]

1 hour ago, puipuitom said:

Ask why the English did not show up with a 10.000 fast corona tests. Problem could have been solved 24 h ago.

Don't ask a stupid question , You asked for a easy solution (I agree) but that would be Common sense Right. 

Now that's something that's not spread very far.  

[RuamRudy]

14 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

 

  That would be an improvement , cut down on lorrys on the road , pollution and food gets to the UK fresher .

Hopefully it will be the new normal , get all the trucks off the road

 

Air freight is massively more expensive that road transport, and has a more negative GHG factor.

 

Air Freight – what’s the problem?

[Hi from France]

Good news: the cavalry has arrived 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/24/french-firefighters-arrive-in-dover-with-10000-covid-tests-for-lorry-drivers

 

Edited December 24, 2020 by Hi from France

[billd766]

20 hours ago, Susco said:

 

France closed their borders to a non EU member, something you have voted for years ago

The UK is still technically a member of the EU until 31st December.

 

I think Macron was just having a paddy and throwing his toys out of the pram to prove how big (that's a laugh in itself) and powerful he is.

 

IIRC 24 hours later his mind was changed by French truck drivers.

[vogie]

2 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

 

France has always been England's bogeyman - I am not sure why that should be; maybe a sense of inferiority on the English side?

Well done RR, you have just proved a point.

[katana]

20 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

 

I certainly never voted for Brexit. But my point was that those campaigning for it said that, whilst in the EU, the UK did not have control over its own borders. As most EU countries have taken unilateral decisions to close their borders to the UK, disregarding requests from the EU, it demonstrates that EU member states do have control over their own borders. 

That seems to be very selectively enforced if what's going on in the Med is taken into account, where large numbers of undocumented migrants from Africa and the Middle East are picked up and ferried over to Greece and Italy by NGOs and naval boats and let go. The people of those countries never voted for that.