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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 today 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.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said 15,000 lorry drivers had been tested for coronavirus by midday today and the backlog at the testing site at Manston Airport had cleared.
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.
Around 3,000 hauliers were still waiting to cross into France from Kent yesterday evening, and around half of these had been cleared by 10.30am today, according to the UK 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 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.
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.
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You can go studs up into the chest to win the ball these days.. who knew ..
@Brian: I’m a Liverpool fan and it wasn’t a penalty
@Mick Joe: I’m pretty sure I’ve seen plenty of penalties given for less!
@Mick Joe: If that challenge is made anywhere else on the pitch its a free kick 10 times out of 10.. It was a penalty.
@Brian: Absolutely disgraceful from the ref and VAR. Anywhere else on the pitch,at any moment during the game,that’s a clear foul and a booking for a reckless challenge. Because it’s with seconds to go and in the penalty area,officials are afraid to be ‘controversial’ City goal allowed to stand despite McAllister being blocked,van Dijk goal ruled out in Carabao Cup Final. Inconsistency is shocking.
@Mick Joe: I’m a Liverpool fan and that’s a peno all day.
@James Rowan: two wrongs don’t make a right
@Mick Joe: I’m a Liverpool fan and it was a penalty
@Mick Joe: Would it have been a free kick and yellow card anywhere else on the pitch?
@Brian: Exactly,and any earlier in the game.
@Mick Joe: yes it was…that happens anywhere else on the pitch and it’s a foul…VAR bottled it.
@Brian: spot on
@Mick Joe: im a united fan and it pains me to say it, but i reckon it was a pen. High legs is still high legs even if doku tried to pull out.
@Brian: Liverpool fans always moaning. Change the record. If Diaz was any use he’d have the match ball and you wouldn’t be crying.
@marklars81: Didn’t hear any moaning last week when the ref messed up and Liverpool got a late winner against Forrest.
@marklars81: nobody is crying lad.. you seem more upset than me . Lol. It was an observation of an incident in the biggest match of the season so far.. that alright with ya ? Lol
@Denis Ryan: Forrest? Oh,it’s Mr Gump again,showing his intelligence
@Mick Joe:
Know your not…your a troll
@Sean Brannigan: I am a Liverpool fan. Brush up on your spelling and grammar.
Liverpool have been denied stonewall penalties in games v City and Arsenal. Not to mention the perfect goal chalked off in the Spurs game. How many more can be dismissed?
Hate watching these games as a man u fan. Entertaining box to box. Attacking football at its best. Great game. Title race blown wide open. Liverpool unlucky had city on the ropes. Arsenal City on 31st has a even bigger feel now.
City luckly with draw as midfield overrun in the second half. Silva and KDB poor today due to Liverpool midfield play. Ake what a mistake. City really needed a win today so the title is probably gone, but still a surprise might happen.
@did you every wonder: city are still well in this race,whatever the result between city and arsenal just throws another twist,as a pool fan I’m enjoying it,but I have me fingers chewed up to the knuckle.
Liverpool have great chance of league. City Arsenal game will hopefully be a draw also. City are under pressure for something in that now. City’s next few games are tough but their final five games are all guaranteed wins for them on paper unlike Liverpool and Arsenal who have some tricky away games in theirs. Arsenal still have united wolves Brighton Tottenham all away also. More twists to come
We were robbed!
3 teams still in it and still some detractors are saying ‘dull stuff’ in contrast to say Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1…you know, Bayern (not this year) Real/Barca/PSG.I want Liverpool to win, if not them Arsenal, and you know what that’ll be the 6th different team in 10/11 years that has won the PL..say to Bayern/PSG et al.
have your say