Stop the blockades: small firms' plea
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by business editor Trevor Sturgess
Small firms are calling on the French Government to clamp down
on strikers who disrupt cross-Channel traffic and bring Kent to a halt.
The Federation of Small Businesses,
which has 7,000 members across Kent and Medway, has
today filed an official complaint about port blockades.
The complaint states that: "The French Government is in breach
of its legal obligations under the EC Treaty, which prohibits
restrictions on imports or exports of goods between Member States;
and demands that the European Commission takes action against the
French Government to prevent further blockades and secure
compensation for those haulage firms affected by the
disruption."
The FSB is taking its Stop the Blockades campaign to the
European Commission in the hope it will put pressure on the French
Government to clamp down on the protests and compensate business for lost business and
wasted time.
The organisation claims the last
fishermen’s strike, in April, cost the economy £6m in terms of
traffic chaos through Operation Stack, and says some businesses,
especially small hauliers, are going to the wall as a result.
The FSB claims that small firms lost an average of £800 during
the four-day dispute and the wider haulage industry loses £1
million for every day Calais is shut.
John Parker of John Parker International, a horse transporter
based near Hythe, faces the added complication of animal welfare
when his vehicles are trapped in Operation Stack.
William Pucknell, of W. S. G. Transport in Medway has had
lorries stuck in Stack that were not crossing the Channel and
needed a police escort to escape the queue."
Roger House, FSB chairman for Kent and Medway, said: "Kent small
businesses are at the forefront when there are hold ups at the
Channel ports, It is not just cross channel traffic that is
inconvenienced, gridlock on surrounding roads make it difficult for
local hauliers to return to their depots.
Kent County Council welcomed the FSB campaign. Kevin Lynes,
Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said:
"The misery caused by Operation Stack when French strike
action closes the ports is acutely felt in the UK and in France.
The cost to businesses, not to mention the inconvenience to
residents, is completely unacceptable and must stop."
Wednesday, July 22 2009
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