The Road Haulage Association has attended a meeting hosted by Xavier Bertrand, president of the Nord Pas de Calais Picardie region, the regional French government responsible for the ports of Calais and Boulogne.
The meeting, held at the Port of Calais and attended by key stakeholders, including representatives from the cross-Channel operators and haulage companies provided an excellent opportunity for full and frank dialogue to address the issues resulting from migrant activity at the ferry terminal and the roads leading to the Port.
“Today’s meeting marked a step towards a concerted effort to eliminate the problems in the Calais area”, said RHA chief executive Richard Burnett. “On behalf of our members I wish to thank President Bertrand and his team for bringing the relevant parties together. It was immediately apparent, and encouraging to learn that all those present were of the same firm opinion that the issue must be addressed by those on both sides of the Channel.
“It provided us with an excellent forum to present our case for the urgent need for an effective solution to be sought that will bring relief to the thousands of UK-bound hauliers that are subjected to violence, abuse and intimidation on a regular basis. A clear plan is needed which can be measured in terms of delivery and key milestones established as to when the migrant camp will be emptied and finally closed.
“The political and business leadership in the Calais region got a very clear understanding of the extent to which effective policing is needed, not only in the Port and its immediate area but also on the approach roads at some distance from the Port. This is a strong message they will be able to take to the French authorities.”
Concluding, Richard Burnett said: “The Calais/Dover freight route is the key economic route between the UK and mainland Europe. Its future viability is totally dependent upon the safe and free flow of trucks yet it is being increasingly avoided by hauliers, often at the insistence of their customers. Many operators are now taking longer and more expensive routes in order to avoid the risks of travelling via Calais. This is adding substantial cost to the supply chain and transport companies will not return to Calais until, and unless they can be confident that the safety of their drivers can be assured and the problem has been resolved.”
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