Approaching Calais at night.

Wildwood
Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
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I read in this mornings papers that there are problems on the approach to Calais in the very early hours of the morning. The residents of the jungle were using bricks and weapons as dangerous as chainsaws to try and stop traffic with the intention of then boarding lorries when they had to stop. £2,000 worth of damage was done to one car and a family was trapped in another.

It sounds like a point to bear in mind if planning to arrive there at that time.

Comments

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
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    edited August 2016 #2

    We gave up on Calais about three years ago (now use Caen) and would`nt have gone near the place in the dark for the last ten years.

  • DavidOldmoley
    DavidOldmoley Forum Participant Posts: 43
    edited August 2016 #3

    We only use it during daylight, been over this year no problems.

     

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited August 2016 #4

    I would never use the ferry terminal at night and certainly not during the current 'troubles'.......daytime, no problems at all.

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #5

    We use the tunnel, but arrive late afternoon and depart usually around 8.30am.  Wouldn't think about travelling during darkness, but it's certainly a point to bear in mind.

  • path
    path Forum Participant Posts: 77
    edited August 2016 #6

    ...and they want to get to England?!!!!!

     

  • DavidOldmoley
    DavidOldmoley Forum Participant Posts: 43
    edited August 2016 #7

    True,but we don't want themFrown

  • comfrylass
    comfrylass Forum Participant Posts: 71
    edited August 2016 #8

    We always do night crossing  came through Calais  Thursday   on way homemorn at 1am no sign of anybody.got stopped and searched  both by french armed and UK un armed.uk customs chap telling hubby found 2 immigrants  on roofs of separate  vans last week.

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004 ✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #9

    The 'residents of the jungle' would have a great deal of trouble in getting on to the autoroutes since the new higher double security fences were erected, and they'd have to get past the police vans parked between the two fences, and the dog patrols.

    I think these are old stories being repeated because there is no new news to report.

  • path
    path Forum Participant Posts: 77
    edited August 2016 #10

    We thought how could they even get on the motorway. When we came back via Calais we didn't see any immigrants whatsoever, Very tall fences had been erected and police vans were all around.

    It must have happened for it to have been reported. Maybe it was on the autoroute miles outside Calais.Very frightening.

  • H B Watson
    H B Watson Forum Participant Posts: 183
    edited August 2016 #11

    Calais seems to getting worse again, at least according to the BBC today. However I came home via Calais in June and it was fine. I think I would avoid the night though.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited August 2016 #12

    I feel sorry for the residents of Calais, they didn't ask for this nonsense in their town.

    I read the military might be deployed as the cops are outnumbered 8 to 1 and some migrants now seem to be armed. 

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited August 2016 #13

    It was on the news again this morning, with a chap from the Road Haulage Association saying that they are cutting down trees to block the roads and then the would-be immigrants can climb into the back of lorries in the queue that forms. He also reported
    that many lorry drivers had been threatened with chain saws and other weaponry.

    He said that it wasn't the immigrants themselves doing the nasty work, but organised gangs of people-smugglers.

    He also said that, although the French authorities had started to clear the camps around Calais, they have now stopped and the numbers are back to over 9,000 camped out there.

    The thing I can't understand is, these are allegedly illegal immigrants. Should they be dealt with accordingly. Shouldn't they be interviewed and, if seeking asylum, dealt with as asylum seekers?

    I cannot imaging that, here in the UK, they would be allowed to simply form an encampment and left there, would they?

  • MJ730
    MJ730 Forum Participant Posts: 184
    edited August 2016 #14

    Dont certain caravan users do this all the time?Innocent