The UK's Road Haulage Association (RHA) has strongly criticised what it describes as "the continuing piecemeal approac"by the UK government to the Calais crisis, following the announcement of "further limited measures"to strengthen the security at Eurotunnel.
The measures focus on the UK sending extra sniffer dogs and security fencing to France to help boost security. The UK government has also drawn up urgent plans for alternative lorry parks in Kent in order to ease traffic congestion on the M20 in the approach to Dover and Folkeston-plans that have already got the 'thumbs 'down from the haulage community.
"I fear that the current situation in Calais and the surrounding area is about to become a disaster, said the RHA's CEO, Richard Burnett.
"This problem requires a strategic security solution. But what we've had is a series of small steps. Each welcome as far as they go, but they simply don't add up to what is required.
"It feels like the government is scrambling to catch up with this issue. Boosting security at Eurotunnel in isolation will only divert migrant attention onto trucks on the approach roads waiting to board.
"Only the deployment of large numbers of security-trained personnel to segregate freight drivers from the migrants will allow for the free passage of goods and ensure the safety of our drivers. We've said all along that this can only be achieved through the deployment of the French military in sufficient numbers to protect the trucks and escort them into the port and/or Eurotunnel."
Burnett added: "I'm visiting Calais on Monday (today) and Tuesday and will be pleased to show any Cabinet minister or the PM how bad the situation is for British truck drivers just trying to do a honest day's work."
The RHA is taking legal advice about suing the French government for a breach of European law on the grounds that the free movement of goods is not being assured. There is a precedent, France having been forced to compensate UK hauliers caught up in a 1996 French lorry drivers' strike, but only after protracted legal proceedings.
Speaking in the Sunday Times, Conservative Party Member of Parliament and member of the House of Commons all-party freight transport group, Andrew Bridgen, said a demand for compensation would "focus the French government's mind".
Symptomatic of the rising exasperation being felt by hauliers, one road freight company boss, quoted in the Daily Express, has called for the trade to boycott truck routes through Calais in order to get the French and UK governments to act.
He said such a move would cause chaos in shops as fresh goods would quickly run out. "That's what needs to happen to make these governments do something seriously about the situation for everybody."
As for the current situation for cross-Channel traffic, 'Operation Stack' was stepped down early on Saturday evening and Dover-Calais ferry services are reported to operating normally.
However, Eurotunnel was hit by more mass intrusions by migrants over the weekend causing services to be suspended for several hours. The impact of this continues to weigh on its truck shuttle schedules today, which are once again subject to delays, particularly for ex-France traffic.