Yahoo News Lorry driver stuck on M20 sets up picnic from cab as mass-testing programme aims to end congestion
As congestion on the M20 continues, lorry drivers have taken to setting up meals outside their vehicles while they wait for the blockade to ease.
One Turkish truck driver was pictured sitting by his vehicle eating a meal of sausages, bread and cheese.
Others were seen drinking at stop-off points on the M20 while they waited to return home.
It comes as housing and communities secretary Robert Jenrick said around 4,000 lorries may be caught up in the Kent backlog.
A mass-testing programme for lorry drivers is set to get under way today to alleviate the congestion at ports after an agreement was reached to reopen the border between France and the UK.
However, Jenrick told Sky News it would take “a few days” to test all the drivers before they can travel to France.
He said: “I hope that this morning you will see people and HGVs crossing the Channel.”
Watch: Miles-long lorry queues form on M20 as borders close
A group of Sikh volunteers and a local football club sourced hundreds of meals for the lorry drivers stuck in Kent, travelling over 80 miles to help provide more than 800 meals to the truckers.
The backlog started after more than 40 countries, including France, Belgium, Italy and Spain, temporarily closed their borders to the UK after Boris Johnson’s comments about a new, more contagious strain of coronavirus on Saturday.
French authorities have announced that journeys from the UK will be allowed to resume after the coronavirus ban was lifted, but those seeking to travel must have a negative test result.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps confirmed on Tuesday evening that rapid lateral flow tests – which can give results in about 30 minutes – will be used to test HGV drivers at the ports.
The French authorities will be carrying out similar testing on hauliers entering the UK.
Shapps said: “We have managed to get all those tests to Kent, enough for all the vehicles which will want to return before Christmas, so that won’t be an issue.
“Obviously there’s a physical issue of providing the test, getting the results. A negative test allows you to leave.
“But all of that requires operationalising and that can’t happen in an instant, so this will take two or three days for things to be cleared.”
Shapps has urged hauliers not to travel to Kent until further notice.
Elizabeth de Jong, policy director at business group Logistics UK, said it was “vital” that testing procedures are “stood up fast to ensure drivers can be processed and get home for Christmas safely”.
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She added: “The backlog of traffic across the region will take time to clear so hauliers should wait for further news before travelling to Kent.”
The protocol agreed with the French government will be reviewed on 31 December – but could run until 6 January.
The French decision to ease its restrictions came after the European Commission recommended a joint approach from EU members in response to the mutant VUI 202012/1 coronavirus.
The World Health Organization’s European chief Hans Kluge said limiting travel to contain the spread of the new variant was “prudent” until there was more information, but that supply chains for “essential goods” and essential travel “should remain possible”.
It comes as the UK government is reportedly considering implementing a third national lockdown on Boxing Day in an attempt to halt the spread of the new COVID strain.
Watch: What is long COVID?
