Following transport delays in the UK after a Eurotunnel fire last week, North East MSP Christian Allard has called for a rethink over Operation Stack – the system used to park haulage vehicles bound for Europe in the event of cross-channel services being disrupted.
Mr Allard is calling for a system to be put in place where vehicles transporting fresh produce are given priority.
Operation Stack is used by Kent Police and the Port of Dover in England to park (or ‘stack’) lorries on the M20 motorway in Kent when services across the English Channel are disrupted, for example by bad weather or industrial action, or by fire or derailments in the tunnel.
Mr Allard, who worked in the fishing industry for 30 years, said the value of fresh produce could be more than halved each day it is delayed and could even be refused by the recipient.
The SNP MSP has written to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent Police and the UK Secretary of State for Transport to ask them what they can do to improve the situation and to ensure that minimal disruption to fresh seafood hauliers is caused following emergencies such as the recent fire.
“I am concerned that Operation Stack has a particularly detrimental effect on hauliers taking fresh seafood from the North East to the continent,” said Mr Allard.
“Fresh fish that sits in a lorry for too long will quickly lose its value and may even be refused by the consignee. If there is a few days delay, major continental retailers might stop purchasing from the UK and insurance will not cover any of the costs.”
