Hauliers slam Chris Grayling’s No Deal dry-run traffic jam as a ‘waste of time’ after just 89 HGV drivers take part — 1 percent of daily Dover traffic
The £50,000 post-Brexit practice-run for truckers, should a No Deal scenario present itself, was described as 'a dress rehearsal for my own execution' by the managing director of Harrier Express
Chris Grayling was slammed yesterday for spending £50,000 to dry run a No Deal traffic jam – that was branded a “waste of time” by hauliers.
Some 89 HGV drivers took part in a dress rehearsal of an emergency traffic system that saw them trundle 33 miles to Dover from a holding pen at Manston Airport.
The disused airport has been earmarked as a huge lorry park for thousands of lorries in the event of No Deal chaos at the ports.
But drivers yesterday slated the test organised by the Transport Secretary and said the small number of trucks taking part represented just 1 per cent of the daily average passing through Dover.
And furious MPs said it risked making Britain a laughing stock.
Simon Wilkinson, managing director of Harrier Express, said: “It feels like a dress rehearsal for my own execution.”
Adam Carter of Int Logistics stormed: “It’s a waste of time. They should have done it in the rush hour. You can see the traffic here is just average. This is not what it will be like in a no-deal.”
Bob Dowle, a 52 year-old who also took part, said Manston wouldn’t work as a holding pen given there are no washing facilities or shops.
He added: “We’ll have to run across the dual carriageway to the McDonalds.”
The 89 drivers were each given a £550 day-rate to take part – meaning a £48,950 bill. Some 150 had been invited.
The row came as Labour MP Helen Goodman claimed Chris Grayling had separately been forced to issue a Ministerial direction to force a civil servant to spend money on No Deal preparation.
The Department for Transport insisted it was not related to the lorry test – and dated back to February 2018 when Whitehall needed Ministerial backing to spend money on a trailer registration scheme.
The PM’s official spokesman yesterday insisted the Manston trial was worth it as it had provided essential information about how traffic flows may be affected if Manston has to be used.
But the Road Haulage Association (RHA) said it was “too little too late” and that other test runs would be required to assess what could happen in a No Deal. RHA chief Richard Burnett said: “Today’s trial cannot possibly duplicate the reality of 4,000 trucks being held at Manston Airport in the event of a No Deal Brexit.
“It’s too little, too late – this process should have started 9 months ago.
“At this stage it looks like window dressing.”
Labour MP Ian Murray, a Best for Britain second referendum supporter, added: “It beggars belief that we are spending tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money to create a traffic jam for a dead end Brexit.
“Future generations will look back at this chaotic moment in our history with bewilderment.”
Brexiteers backing a No Deal insist there will be no extra checks at Dover if the UK leaves the EU without a new trading agreement in place.
MOST READ IN BREXIT
But French authorities have warned all food and livestock will have to be checked on their side of the Channel before heading to the UK.
Calais politician Xavier Bertrand warns that just a two-minute delay could trigger a 27,000 strong tailback on both sides of the Channel.
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]