Congestion eases at UK border after thousands of drivers tested

Thousands more lorries have been allowed to cross the English Channel after being held at the border on Christmas Day, but hauliers have warned “it’s not over yet”.

Congestion continues to ease at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel on St Stephen’s Day after thousands of drivers spent days in queues, but more who held off leaving for the border over the festive period are expected to join the queue soon.

France closed its border last Sunday following the discovery of a fast-spreading mutant Covid-19 strain in the UK, and drivers wishing to enter the country from Britain must now show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken in the previous 72 hours.

British transport secretary Grant Shapps said 15,000 lorry drivers had been tested for coronavirus by midday on Saturday, and the backlog at the testing site at Manston airport had cleared.

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He said on Twitter: “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.”

Traffic began moving smoothly through Dover on Friday, with French firefighters and the Polish military’s Territorial Defence Force drafted in to help some 1,100 British military personnel with testing at Manston airport and two mobile sites.

About 3,000 hauliers were still waiting to cross into France from Kent on Friday evening, and around half of these had been cleared by 10.30am on Saturday, according to the Department for Transport.

More than 8,000 HGVs have passed over the border via the port or through Eurotunnel since Wednesday when the border reopened, the department said.

Duncan Buchanan, policy director at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said "traffic is flowing" at the Port of Dover on Saturday, 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.

Mr Buchanan said: “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.

"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.”

Volunteers – including individuals from nearby communities, the Salvation Army, Muslim group Al-Khair Foundation, HM Coastguard and Kent County Council – have been delivering thousands of warm meals and water to the drivers. – PA