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Kent lorry backlog clears as border congestion eases after Christmas chaos

April Roach
·3-min read
<p>British Army soldiers delivering Covid-19 tests to a lorry drivers on the M20 in Kent</p> (PA)

British Army soldiers delivering Covid-19 tests to a lorry drivers on the M20 in Kent

(PA)

A Kent lorry park where thousands of drivers were held amid disruption at the English Channel border has finally been cleared.

Thousands of hauliers began Boxing Day in their cabs, waiting to cross into France from Kent, despite hundreds of troops being drafted in to help clear the backlog after almost a week of disruption.

The chaos began after France closed its border following the discovery of a fast-spreading mutant Covid-19 strain in the UK. Drivers wishing to enter the country from Britain must now show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken in the previous 72 hours.

On Boxing Day, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said 15,000 lorry drivers had been tested for coronavirus by midday, and the backlog at the testing site at Manston Airport had cleared and lorries should no longer go there.

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He said that, of the 15,526 drivers who were tested for coronavirus, just 36 tests came back positive for the virus. He added that the positive results are now “being verified”.

Mr Shapps tweeted: “Update on Kent lorry situation: 15,526 #Coronavirus tests now carried out. Just 36 positive results, which are being verified (0.23%). Manston now empty and lorries should no longer head there please.”

He added: "A massive THANK YOU to everyone who's worked tirelessly over the past few days to reduce the huge disruption caused by the sudden French border closure: Police, military, planners, councils, charities, border staff - all have rallied to bring food & drink to stranded hauliers.”

Duncan Buchanan, policy director at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said “traffic is flowing” at the Port of Dover on Boxing Day, but he added “it’s not over yet” because more drivers who held off leaving over Christmas would be joining the queue in the coming days.

“At the moment, it’s just a case of keep going because we need to make sure we can get as many people out as possible," said Mr Buchanan.

“We still have all the people who delayed travelling, who will start to want to get through. Some people will have parked up in Essex and will be looking at moving again.

“Next week is a normal working week so I would expect the vehicles to increase then too. It’s not over yet and we will see what happens next.

“I want to pass on a thank-you to everyone who has helped look after the drivers by giving them food – a lot of people have done a lot of hard work, and it’s really good to see so many people helping.”

<p>Drivers walk along the road next to freight lorries lined up on the M20 near Ashford, Kent on Christmas Day</p>PA

Drivers walk along the road next to freight lorries lined up on the M20 near Ashford, Kent on Christmas Day

PA

Earlier this week, tensions threatened to boil over as some of the truckers clashed with police at the border. Footage of the port on Christmas Eve showed the truckers had used traffic cones to spell out the word “help”.

France was accused of over-reacting to the new strain of Covid-19 after more than 2,000 lorry drivers waiting to leave the port returned negative test. Just three drivers had positive tests, said Mr Shapps.

Army personnel had tested more than 6,200 drivers as of Christmas Day, while also being tasked with distributing food and water, the Ministry of Defence said.

Traffic was moving smoothly through Dover on Friday, with French firefighters and the Polish military’s Territorial Defence Force also drafted in to help with testing.

Germany’s ambassador to the UK, Andreas Michaelis, said some German hauliers had managed to make it home for Christmas, while others remained in Kent.

He tweeted: “Some of the German lorry drivers we’ve been in touch with are on their way home or at home already. Others sadly remain stuck.

“I sincerely hope things will start moving for them soon. This is a difficult Christmas. Our thoughts are with them.”

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