FTA calls for compensation for Channel disruption

The Freight Transport Association has called on the French government to compensate UK freight operators for the estimated £21million they lost as a result of Operation Stack.

The operation for parking lorries on the M20 in Kent was implemented on 28 days between 23rd June and 2nd August. The FTA said the estimated cost didn’t include loss of business, spoilt cargoes, missed export deadlines or the percentage of journeys diverted during Operation Stack which have are all additional costs to freight operators.

James Hookham, the FTA deputy chief executive said: “The weeks of chaos on the roads in Kent were unacceptable and we need a long-term solution to Operation Stack – this situation cannot be allowed to happen again. As the industrial dispute from the MyFerryLink workers has not been resolved – there is every likelihood that we could see a repeat performance before the summer is out.”

Home secretary Theresa May and French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve were meeting in Calais yesterday to agree a new deal to tackle the migrant crisis there, and to consider more security around the site where thousands of migrants are currently camped.

* The Road Haulage Association says it has been given an assurance that government will work closely with the RHA to continue to reduce the problems of disruption to Channel services.

Chief executive Richard Burnett said: “This is vital, particularly if the location of attacks on our members’ vehicles moves further out from the Port and Tunnel areas as we suspect will be the case. I am pleased that we received that assurance.”

The RHA welcomed other measures included in the agreement between the UK and French governments including:

* The deployment of extra French policing units

* Additional UK resources to secure the Eurotunnel railhead including fencing, CCTV, flood lighting and infrared detection technology, and stronger security within the tunnel itself

* Additional freight search teams, including detection dogs.

Source: logisticsmanager.com