Ferries resume as blockade ends

1 ANSWERS

1. Brett
   

   Ferry services from Dover have resumed after French fishermen decided not to continue their blockade of the port of Calais, P&O Ferries has said.
   
   Thousands of holidaymakers and hauliers trying to cross the Channel had faced a third day of disruption because of industrial action by French fishermen.
   
   Blockades of Dunkirk and Boulogne were also lifted earlier, so protesters could attend union meetings.
   
   P&O and SeaFrance ferries have resumed. Norfolkline is also in operation.
   
   A spokeswoman for P&O said on Thursday morning: "The blockade is being lifted for today.
   
   "We can start as soon as possible to get ships moving and resume a normal service as soon as possible.
   
   
   We're sorry but this action is the only thing the politicians understand
   Pascal Hamy, Calais protester
   
   "There was a backlog of freight at Calais this morning, but with the ability to operate as normal, we should be able to clear that."
   
   One of the Calais protesters, Pascal Hamy, 49, said "There have been some concessions but they're not enough.
   
   "What we want to do is work. We're not guilty of causing the problem.
   
   "The people guilty of that are the French government and Brussels. It's not us.
   
   "We understand people are stuck here and we know that they are frustrated.
   
   "We're sorry but this action is the only thing the politicians understand."
   
   'Worst possible time'
   
   Protesters fighting EU fishing quotas had blocked the ports of Calais, Dunkirk, and Boulogne since Tuesday.
   
   The blockade was lifted overnight to allow the backlog of passengers to clear from Calais.
   
   It was imposed again early on Thursday and then lifted again.
   
   People were advised to make alternative travel arrangements.
   
   Hundreds of lorry drivers have been queuing on the M20 in Operation Stack - put in place by Kent Police to reduce traffic congestion close to Dover.
   
   Jo Tanner, from the Freight Transport Association, said the blockade had come at the worst possible time.
   
   "It is costing £40 per hour per HGV and if you look at Operation Stack and the number of trucks it soon adds up," she said.
   
   "Particularly when we have an industry that's already struggling thanks to the recession, thanks to successive fuel duty increases, this is absolutely the last thing that we need."
   
   Mark Darlow, 41, an exhibition contractor from Retford in Nottinghamshire, was due to sail with his father, Peter, from Dover to Calais on Wednesday.
   
   "This is having a huge effect on businesses not just in the UK but the whole of Europe, this is one of the busiest freight terminals worldwide," he said.

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