Building a new wall at Calais is not the answer to migrant attacks says RHA
The Road Haulage Association is disappointed to learn of proposals to build a 4m high, 1km long wall at the Port of Calais.
Commenting, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: “It is 12 months to the day since I presented the Association’s demands to protect lorry drivers in Calais to the Home Affairs Select Committee.
“I am very disappointed that despite presenting a robust case for increased security at the Port, one year on UK-bound HGV drivers are still running the gauntlet of aggressive migrant activity on a daily basis.
“This latest proposal, supposedly costing £1.9M, would be a poor use of taxpayers money. We made it clear to the Select Committee that security levels needed to be improved; not just within the Port perimeter but in the surrounding environs up to a distance of 5kms. This advice now being given to members of the Association is that their drivers should not stop within 150 miles of the Port. It is imperative that the money to pay for a wall would be much better spent on increasing security along the approach roads.
“Of course we sympathise with the Calais businesses and residents whose lives and livelihoods are being blighted by migrant activity, despite a large part of the ‘Jungle’ being dismantled.
“However, our focus remains with the HGV drivers who now accept that physical threats are just a part of the job. This is morally wrong and cannot be allowed to continue.
