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Operation Stack: British troops called in and MoD land used as car park to ease congestion crisis Operation Stack crisis may be eased after MoD confirm they 'may' use land to ease congestion crisis
(about 2 hours later)
British troops will be involved in an operation to ease traffic congestion in Kent as the chaos in Calais continues. British troops "may be" involved in an operation to ease traffic congestion in Kent as the chaos in Calais continues.
Following a Cobra meeting on Friday morning, David Cameron confirmed the Ministry of Defence will use land around Folkestone as a temporary parking space, allowing some relief for the heavily congested motorway. Plans are reportedly being developed by the Ministry of Defence to use land around Folkestone as a temporary parking space, allowing some relief for the heavily congested motorway.
The Prime Minister, who recently returned from a four-day tour of South East Asia, also said sniffer dogs and extra fencing would be sent to France to help struggling French authorities in Calais. A source told the Daily Telegraph that a decision regarding the land, owned by the MoD, would be “taken in due course” and that plans were still in the early stages. The plans are reportedly being co-ordinated by civilian, rather than military, authorities.
It is understood by The Independent that plans for the use of the land, owned by the MoD, will see British soldiers working alongside Surrey police, who have so far overseen Operation Stack, in an auxiliary role. It is understood by The Independent that should the plans go ahead - despite them still being in the exploratory stage - British soldiers would work alongside Surrey police, who have so far overseen Operation Stack, in an auxiliary role.
The plans are reportedly being co-ordinated by civilian, rather than military, authorities.
Two migrants cling to the roof of a freight truck as it leaves the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone Migrants escape from the French Police as they try to catch a train to reach England French gendarmes attempt to block a migrant after he entered the Eurotunnel site in Coquelles near Calais
An estimated 6,000 lorries are parked along the M20, which remains closed coastbound from Junctions 8 to eleven.An estimated 6,000 lorries are parked along the M20, which remains closed coastbound from Junctions 8 to eleven.
Mr Cameron, speaking after the Cobra meeting in Downing Street, said he would be speaking to France's President François Hollande later on Friday.
"This is going to be a difficult issue right across the summer," he said.
"I will have a team of senior ministers who I will be working to deal with it, and we rule nothing out in taking action to deal with this very serious problem.
"We are absolutely on it. We know it needs more work."
It comes as the migrant crisis in Calais continues to worsen, with hundreds of desperate migrants attempting to enter the Channel tunnel for the fourth consecutive night.It comes as the migrant crisis in Calais continues to worsen, with hundreds of desperate migrants attempting to enter the Channel tunnel for the fourth consecutive night.
French security and police have been dispatched to the port where approximately 100 migrants streamed past officers as they attempted to enter the Tunnel overnight. French security and police have been dispatched to the port where last night approximately 100 migrants streamed past officers as they attempted to enter the Tunnel. Although the security forces eventually regained control, they were unable to prevent the closure of the tunnel in Coquelles.
Although security forces eventually regained control, they were unable to prevent the closure of the tunnel in Coquelles. David Cameron has returned to the UK following his four-day tour of South East Asia. The Prime Minister is chairing an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the crisis, which is expected to wrap up this morning.
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Additional reporting by Press AssociationAdditional reporting by Press Association