This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-33785056
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Calais crisis: Manston Airport group threatens lorry park blockade | Calais crisis: Manston Airport group threatens lorry park blockade |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Campaigners fighting to save a disused airport have threatened to use direct action to stop it being used as a lorry park during cross-Channel disruption. | Campaigners fighting to save a disused airport have threatened to use direct action to stop it being used as a lorry park during cross-Channel disruption. |
| It was announced on Tuesday that Manston Airport would be used to hold freight traffic in the short-term. | It was announced on Tuesday that Manston Airport would be used to hold freight traffic in the short-term. |
| The aim is to ease congestion caused by Operation Stack, in which Dover-bound lorries are parked on the M20. | The aim is to ease congestion caused by Operation Stack, in which Dover-bound lorries are parked on the M20. |
| Ruth Bailey, of Save Manston Airport, said it was likely the group would block entrances and lie on the runway. | Ruth Bailey, of Save Manston Airport, said it was likely the group would block entrances and lie on the runway. |
| 'Blocking entrances' | 'Blocking entrances' |
| She told BBC Radio Kent: "How ridiculous. It's the holiday season, the height of the holiday season and Thanet relies on tourism for its trade. | She told BBC Radio Kent: "How ridiculous. It's the holiday season, the height of the holiday season and Thanet relies on tourism for its trade. |
| "It's going to completely block all the roads people are going to think twice about coming to our beautiful beaches. | "It's going to completely block all the roads people are going to think twice about coming to our beautiful beaches. |
| "I think it's very likely that a lot of the group will be taking direct action, which will mean blocking the entrances, laying on the runway if necessary." | "I think it's very likely that a lot of the group will be taking direct action, which will mean blocking the entrances, laying on the runway if necessary." |
| The ongoing situation in the French port involving migrants and striking ferry workers has led to Operation Stack being implemented on 29 days this summer. | |
| Transport minister Lord Ahmad said using the airport as a holding area was a viable temporary solution to keeping traffic and goods moving. | Transport minister Lord Ahmad said using the airport as a holding area was a viable temporary solution to keeping traffic and goods moving. |
| 'Far fewer lorries' | 'Far fewer lorries' |
| Damian Collins, Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe, welcomed the decision, saying the use of Manston in the short-term was a "step in the right direction". | Damian Collins, Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe, welcomed the decision, saying the use of Manston in the short-term was a "step in the right direction". |
| "But there is another very important component as well which is still being worked on... and that is that we have a system of managing Stack on the M20, albeit with far fewer lorries now, where we can still run traffic in both directions. | "But there is another very important component as well which is still being worked on... and that is that we have a system of managing Stack on the M20, albeit with far fewer lorries now, where we can still run traffic in both directions. |
| He said Highways England was working on the plans but a pre-condition was for some of the freight traffic to be taken off the M20. | He said Highways England was working on the plans but a pre-condition was for some of the freight traffic to be taken off the M20. |
| The decision to use Manston as a temporary lorry park has been criticised as "geographically unsuitable" by Conservative MPs for South Thanet and North Thanet, Craig Mackinlay and Roger Gale. | The decision to use Manston as a temporary lorry park has been criticised as "geographically unsuitable" by Conservative MPs for South Thanet and North Thanet, Craig Mackinlay and Roger Gale. |
| The UKIP-run Thanet District Council and UKIP leader Nigel Farage are also against the plan. | The UKIP-run Thanet District Council and UKIP leader Nigel Farage are also against the plan. |