Stranded lorry drivers stuck in Dover spell out ‘help’ in cones

April Roach @aprilroach2824 December 2020

Stranded lorry drivers used traffic cones to spell out “help” in Dover as thousands are expected to spend Christmas at the port.

More than 1,000 lorries have left the UK since Wednesday evening but many are still trapped at the port of Dover.

The drivers were stranded after France introduced travel restrictions on hauliers crossing the Channel following the emergence of a new mutated strain of coronavirus in the UK.

Footage of the port on Christmas Eve showed the truckers had used traffic cones to spell out the word “help”.

It comes after tensions threatened to boil over on Wednesday as the truckers were pictured clashing with police officers at the port.

The lorry drivers were seen honking their horns in protest. Kent Police said a man had been arrested for obstructing a highway in Dover.

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 Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

Police hold back truck drivers trying to enter the Port of Dover in Kent

Outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Dover
1/23

Mr Shapps announced in a tweet: “Kent haulier testing results to date – 2,367 tests carried out as of midday, of which: 2,364 negative 3 positive.

“As the EU Transport Commissioner has tweeted, testing hauliers is not recommended.

“Spending days in a lorry on your own puts you in an extremely low risk category.”

Earlier the Transport Secretary said the UK had agreed with France to keep the border between the countries open “throughout Christmas”.

The leader of Kent County Council expressed his “deep sympathy” to the thousands of stranded lorry drivers in the county who will be unable to get home for Christmas.

Extra portable toilets, food and drinking water is being provided by the council, charities and other groups to the hauliers who are stuck on a former airfield or the main roads into Dover.

And although many are now being tested for coronavirus, with a negative result allowing them to get a ferry or use the Eurotunnel to get to France and continue their onward journey, for many it will be too late.

Council leader Roger Gough said: “The kindness and humanity shown by people who have rallied to provide welfare for those caught up in delays at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel is amazing.

“I would like to thank all those who are coming forward to help, including charities, businesses, voluntary groups and, of course, our own driver welfare teams.

“The situation should now improve steadily as drivers secure negative Covid-19 test results and are able to continue their journeys into France by ferry or freight train. I have, however, deep sympathy for those for whom this will come too late to spend Christmas with their families.”

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