Congestion eases at UK border, but carriers warn ‘not over yet’

THOUSANDS MORE TRUCKS were allowed to cross the English Channel after being detained at the border on Christmas Day, but haulers warned that “it is not over yet.”

Congestion continues to ease at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel today after thousands of drivers spent days in queues, but more people who delayed departing for the border over the holiday period are expected to join the queue soon.

France closed its border last Sunday following the discovery of a rapidly spreading mutant Covid-19 strain in the UK, and drivers wishing to enter the country from Britain must now show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken. in the previous 72 hours.

Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps said 15,000 truck drivers had been screened for the coronavirus as of noon today and the delay at the test site at Manston Airport had been cleared.

He said on Twitter: “Kent truck situation update: 15,526 #Coronavirus tests now conducted. Only 36 positive results, which are being verified (0.23%). Manston is now empty and trucks shouldn’t go there anymore, please. “

Traffic began moving smoothly through Dover on Friday, with French firefighters and the Polish Army’s Territorial Defense Force enlisted to assist some 1,100 British servicemen with tests at Manston Airport and two mobile sites.

Around 3,000 carriers were still waiting to cross into France from Kent last night, and around half of them had been cleared by 10.30am today, according to the UK Department for Transport.

More than 8,000 heavy vehicles have crossed the border through the port or the Eurotunnel since Wednesday when the border was reopened, the department said.

Duncan Buchanan, policy director for the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said “traffic is flowing” at the Port of Dover on Dec. 26, but added that it is “not over yet” because more drivers who did not leave would join. during Christmas. the queue in the next few days.

Buchanan said: “At the moment, it’s just a case of moving on because we need to make sure we can get as many people out as possible.

“We still have all the people who delayed the trip, who will start to want to pass. Some people will have parked in Essex and will be thinking of moving again.

“Next week is a normal work week, so I expect vehicles to increase as well. It’s not over yet and we’ll see what happens next.

“I want to thank everyone who helped take care of the drivers by giving them food; a lot of people have worked hard and it’s really good to see so many people helping.

Volunteers, including individuals from nearby communities, the Salvation Army, the Muslim group Al-Khair Foundation, HM Coastguard and the Kent County Council, have been delivering thousands of hot meals and water to drivers.