French fuel shortages bring traffic chaos to south coast

THE chaos caused by severe fuel shortages amid crippling strikes in France has spilt across the Channel, leading to an increase in breakdowns on the south coast as holidaymakers return with empty tanks.

In the worst labour unrest to grip the country for decades, 40 per cent of France’s petrol stations remained affected yesterday and six of France’s eight oil refineries were still closed or running at a reduced capacity.

As families begin the return to the UK following the bank holiday weekend, motoring organisations have warned of the knock-on effect of France’s fuel shortage.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “We’ve had more ‘out of fuel’ breakdowns than normal on the south coast, with people thinking they have a bit more in the tank than they actually do.”

Mr King urged drivers returning from France with hardly any petrol to refill their tanks straight after crossing the border into England, adding that there may be long queues at petrol stations around ports.

Claire Jeffrey, a district councillor for East Folkestone, criticised the Government for failing to advise local councils on how to deal with the increased strain on services. “Unfortunately it’s a horrible reminder of last summer’s misery and Operation Stack. There seems to be no forward planning,” she said.

“Highway England and the Government could do a lot better at advising local councils and district councils about what steps could be put in place to ameliorate these cir- cumstances.” Yesterday, pilots at Air France voted in favour of strike action over pay conditions.

Workers at the oil terminal in the northern port of Le Havre – which supplies kerosene to Paris’s two main airports – voted yesterday to extend their blockade until Wednesday. Rail workers are also planning stoppages that will lead to severe cuts in national train services from tomorrow.

In Paris, Métro and suburban train services will be reduced from Thursday, when CGT members are to begin a strike. Another Left-wing union, SUD, has called a strike from June 10, when the month-long Euro 2016 football tournament begins.

Unions are striking over proposed measures to make it easier to hire and fire employees.

The more moderate CFDT union backs the labour reforms, which have already been watered down – to the disgust of many employers – but the hardline CGT refuses to compromise.

‘It’s a horrible reminder of last summer’s misery. There seems to be no forward planning’