P&O Ferries has suspended all services to Calais until Good Friday with thousands of lorries stuck at Dover causing yet more mayhem for those trying to cross the channel – as the meat industry is demanding hauliers carrying fresh food are given priority.
The busiest port in Britain, Dover, is under severe weather pressure. This includes a squeeze on services from the Easter holiday rush. There are also ongoing problems with the ferry company that has fired its employees.
Some British Meat Processors Association members claim it takes more than one day for the message to reach Europe. There are also concerns about European customers taking their business elsewhere.
The controversial ferry service P&O has suspended the route from Calais to Dover until Thursday at least, it said.
Road closures so hauliers can get through traffic jams have also continued in Kent and the M20 has been closed as of 10am.
In light of this recent announcement, the Department for Transport has not taken any move to change how perishable items are transported.
P&O Ferries has suspended all services to Calais until Good Friday with thousands of lorries stuck at Dover causing yet more mayhem for those trying to cross the channel – as the meat industry is demanding hauliers carrying fresh food are given priority. (Kent’s M20 yesterday)
The controversial ferry service P&O has suspended the route from Calais to Dover until Thursday at least, it said.
Operation Brock caused a 23-mile queue of trucks yesterday that included more than 2000 lorries. Drivers were urged not to use the M20, A20 or A2 roads.
It is recommended that non-freight traffic use the A20 rather than the M20. Freight traffic arriving off J8 has been moved into waiting areas in order to be cleared before it travels to Channel Crossings.
Nick Allen is the British Meat Processors Association’s chief executive. He told BBC, “We have been told that we can expect disruptions well into next week.” It is bad timing considering Easter is fast approaching, and this is a time when fresh meat exports are very active.
Lockerbie-based Eardley International said this is putting huge pressure on their fresh meat business, and can mean he loses out on £800 per truck.
Due to a 23-mile long lorry queue, which included more than 2000 lorries yesterday, drivers were urged not to use the M20, A20 or A2 today.
Graham Eardley is the company director. He stated that there are delays between 20 and 25 hours for products to reach the Channel. This causes a drop in quality and sales value.
Danish shipping company DFDS Seaway says it is also expecting delays today and has said: ‘Were expecting a busy day here in Dover today.
‘Please allow at least 90 minutes to complete the check-in process & border controls at Port in addition to journey time.’
While P&O also suspended its Larne and Cairnryan service until including and up to Tuesday. Its Pride of Hull to Rotterdam is restarting on April 13.
Shane Brennan, chief executive of the Cold Chain Federation, said: ‘The UK is getting a growing reputation for being a hassle to serve, and that creates problems for my members who can’t find the hauliers to take their business because they don’t want to take the risk of sitting in traffic on the M20.’
DFDS Seaway, a Danish shipping company, has stated that it also expects delays today. Please allow at least 90 minutes to complete the check-in process & border controls at Port in addition to journey time.’
As people headed off to Easter, there was a very busy terminal 2 in London’s Heathrow Airport.
The spokesperson for the Department of Transport said that: ‘P&O’s unacceptable actions have resulted in its vessels being detained, causing backlogs and traffic jams which would be substantially alleviated if its fleet was operating normally…’
Its working with Kent Resilience Forum, police and regional leaders to help.
Airports in contrast are looking less busy today with travellers at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester all reporting short queues getting through security.
British Airways had previously cancelled 84 domestic and European flights so far on Sunday, which were mainly axed a few weeks previously due to them having to reduce their schedule, while easyJet has grounded at least 38 flights so far.
A spokeswoman for easyJet said: ‘We will operate 1571 flights today with a small proportion having been cancelled in advance to give customers the ability to rebook onto alternative flights. Sorry for the inconvenience caused to customers.
“We will continue managing the higher-than-usual sickness rates via advance cancellation of a limited number of flights over these coming days.