France eases travel ban but truck drivers still warned to avoid Kent Luke O Reilly
France will allow visitors from the UK via planes, boats and the Eurostar - providing they produce a negative test.
Planes, boats and the Eurostar will resume their service on Wednesday morning, French transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari has tweeted.
He added: “French nationals, residents and those with a legitimate reason to be here must provide a negative test.”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that the government had reached an agreement with France.
However, he warned hauliers to avoid travelling to Kent this evening.
He tweeted: “Good progress today and agreement with the French Government on borders.
French authorities have announced that journeys from the UK will be allowed to resume on Wednesday after the coronavirus ban was lifted, but those seeking to travel must have a negative test result.
The conditions may do little to ease congestion in Kent caused by the French decision to stop hauliers using the Channel crossing.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps urged lorry drivers not to head to the county in the hope of boarding a ferry or train.
The travel ban was imposed in response to fears about the spread of the more infectious coronavirus strain, which is spreading in the UK.
Mass testing programme for HGV drivers planned following France agreement
The protocol agreed with the French government will be reviewed on December 31
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Crisis talks to prevent Christmas food shortages as borders clog up Crisis talks with France will continue in an effort to resume trade flows across the Channel amid warnings that the border must be running again by Wednesday to avoid disruption to food supplies. More than 1,500 lorries are backed up in Kent, unable to make the crossing to France, with drivers having spent a second night sleeping in their cabs. Home Secretary Priti Patel said the Government is “speaking constantly” with France to achieve a resolution “in both our interests” to get freight moving again. But she defended the Government’s handling of the pandemic, insisting ministers had been “ahead of the curve” in tackling coronavirus.
WARNINGS are being issued about food shortages if the border between the UK and the continent which has caused chaos at ports on the English Channel is not reopened. Crisis talks between Britain and France are continuing in an effort to resume trade flows to the continent. More than 1500 lorries are backed up in Kent, unable to make the crossing to France, with drivers having spent a second night sleeping in their cabs. UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said the Government is speaking constantly with France to achieve a resolution in both our interests to get freight moving again. But she defended the Government s handling of the pandemic, insisting ministers had been ahead of the curve in tackling coronavirus.