Despite the decision on Friday to further restrict cross-strait travel, the government has restarted emergency road measures to deal with Kent’s post-Brexit queues in response to potential holiday traffic France.
According to the English Road Agency, the barriers on the M20 road were set up for Operation Brock over the weekend, and the decision made on Thursday was “expected that starting from Monday, international travel by car drivers will increase.”
At the beginning of most school summer vacations, next weekend is usually the busiest time for passenger traffic at the port, and tomorrow’s “Freedom Day” is expected to mean more road traffic KentHowever, the British government’s announcement that France will be excluded from allowing vaccinated travelers to visit Amber Listed countries without quarantining on their return may further curb demand.
Eurotunnel said it did not cancel immediately, but added: “We have seen a significant drop in bookings this year, so no traffic congestion was expected.”
Transporters said they did not experience any delays due to traffic en route to the port.
The government stated that the U-turn in its travel policy was due to the existence of Beta variant cases in France.
A Eurotunnel spokesperson warned that this decision would “ruin the summer of many people,” but said he did not understand the sudden move. It said: “We have been talking to the government non-stop, but have not received any reminders. We have asked what the reasoning behind this is.
“We are confused. There is no evidence that this variant has a problem in France. Not only is it very low, it is also declining.”
Richard Ballantyne, Chief Executive Officer of the British Ports Association, said: “The latest changes to the rules regarding travel in France are particularly unhelpful. Maritime operators have been struggling to adapt to changing cross-border arrangements, but this decision is yet another One blow.”
Airline anger intensified over the weekend, with global agency Iata calling the United Kingdom an “outsider” with “no coherent policy.” Its director-general Willie Walsh said: “The government is failing, making people unable to live…and destroying its own tourism industry and the thousands of jobs that depend on it.”
The entire English Channel was equally angry, where French newspapers and politicians lashed out at Britain. The center-right newspaper Le Figaro said: “Boris Johnson once again stated that he can say anything and vice versa. On Friday morning, he confirmed that July 19 will be “Freedom Day”… Friday night, He punished travelers from France, as if the vaunted British vaccine protection no longer exists.”
Professor Neal Ferguson, speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Mar show on Sunday, said that despite the small number, people are concerned about the Beta variant because it may prove resistance to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
He said: “This is not going to rise in France. In fact, Delta Air Lines is their focus. These variants slightly affect the vaccine… Beta does more than Delta, which may become a problem in the fall. .”
