David Cameron invited to ‘witness Calais crisis first hand

Elizabeth Bates | Road Haulage Association

2 min read03 August 2015 Partner content

Road Haulage Association Chief Executive Richard Burnett has written to the Prime Minister requesting an urgent meeting regarding the crisis at Calais.

He says he would like to discuss with David Cameron the impact that the situation is having on the UK haulage industry and the implications for the economy as a whole.

While welcoming measures to increase security at Eurotunnel the RHA is calling for more comprehensive solution to restore the free movement of lorries through the Calais area.

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Richard Burnett said: "We need the same level of commitment to protecting truck drivers, their vehicles and loads as we are seeing towards protecting the valuable Channel Tunnel infrastructure at Coquelles. We are not seeing that and we are not hearing it from the Prime Minister.

"We recognise the scale and complexity of the migrant crisis and the humanitarian issue involved. However, that is a separate issue from the urgent need to allow trucks to move freely and without intimidation.

“The migrants are hell-bent on reaching the UK. If the Tunnel becomes harder to access, they will simply focus their attentions further back to the Tunnel approach roads. We need to hear a clear commitment to doing what is necessary to protect drivers.

“Without witnessing the mayhem at Calais first hand, neither the Prime Minister, nor his advisers can fully grasp the severity of the situation. I have therefore issued an invitation to David Cameron to travel with him across the Channel to see for himself the appalling conditions that drivers are facing. I made the journey five weeks ago and I have been back to Calais today to assess the current situation and to establish for myself the problems facing our drivers.”

The RHA is running an online petitionurging the Government to put an end to Operation Stack. It can be viewed here.