Reaching crisis point on roads

Much has rightly been written and said about how poorly P&O workers have been treated.

April 15 signals the start of Easter and what is traditionally one of the busiest and economically important periods for the ferries, port, tunnel and tests, almost to destruction, the capacity of our local road network to cope.

With ferries lying idle in the port, all does not bode well for having these running efficiently in the foreseeable future and it is highly likely east Kent will become a traffic no-go area, as happened in December 2020.

Trucks are now being ‘stacked’ on the M20, and could be for some time, so what are the possible consequences when you add the potential avalanche of Easter holiday traffic?

If these trucks are not cleared quickly then hauliers will refuse to deliver into the UK. They only earn a living when their wheels are turning so they cannot afford to be in long stationary queues for hours or days on end. Result,

either shortages in supermarkets and shops or their rates go up which will no doubt be passed on thus increasing inflation and, more than likely both.

Are we reaching a point where ferries and the Tunnel will have to carry freight only just to keep our economy running?

Could we be heading towards a situation where, because of a lack of workable ferry tonnage, and a backlog of trucks held on the M20, a State of Emergency has to be declared and the government takes control of these idle ferries for the good of both local community and nation, until all issues are resolved?

If ever their is a case for truck stops on the M20 and M2 corridors, this is it.

Mick Tedder