Britain’s Road Haulage Association says France’s proposed new migrant camp at Dunkirk will “double the problem” for UK-bound operators.
Plans have been apparently mooted to construct a new camp in addition to the existing one at the Port of Calais in a bid to cope with increasing numbers of migrants desperate to reach the UK across the English Channel.
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“This will not solve the problem of migrants causing yet more misery for the thousands of UK-bound hauliers who regularly use this alternative route to cross the Channel”, said RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett. “The issue must be resolved, not doubled.
“Britain has committed GBP19m (US$28m) in funding for fences, CCTV and other security measures at Calais since the crisis erupted in June and has already invested GBP7m in a secure HGV parking area and additional fencing at the Port.
“We now learn the French government will apparently be picking up the GBP1.1m bill for the new camp. As experience has clearly shown, this will barely scratch the surface of the problem.
“Migrants at Calais already outnumber security officials by 18:1. Our greatest concern is the number of staff will be reduced and redeployed at Dunkirk. The inevitable outcome of this will be what is already a bad situation will get much, much worse. It is unthinkable that lives, already at risk, are lost.”
The RHA says it will continue to push for deployment of the French military at Calais and will be requesting a meeting with the town Mayor, Natacha Bouchart.
“This is now a critical situation which cannot be allowed to continue”, added Burnett. “The lives and livelihoods for hauliers and for thousands of Calaisians are now being put at severe risk. Pressure must be brought to bear on the French government to act.
“The situation at Calais will not disappear any time soon and that is where the focus must remain. It must be addressed and resolved as effectively and quickly as possible. Duplicating the problem to another port 30 miles away is not the answer.”
