Calais port

[aka4ajax]

I would just like to clarify my feelings on this;

I was a bit taken back by the comments, "do not believe everything you read on here".

I was posting what I had seen and my comment should be noted, I said I was not concerned and at this time I would use Calais for my next trip.

What I also pointed out was my observations, Calais is not clear of Migrants and at the time I travelled there they were not a threat to me. However, the problem is very real and many people are suffering as the migrants themselves are.

Sooner or later this will implode or rather explode, the reports I posted and many more I have read support this.

So my advice is, if you are going to choose Calais as your point of entry/exit to Europe, please take care and be aware of your surroundings.

No lets all get on and play nicely again.

[stvekay]

"No lets all get on and play nicely again"

 

Brilliant

[StuartO]

aka4ajax - 2016-08-15 3:47 PM....I was a bit taken back by the comments, "do not believe everything you read on here"...

 

Me too of course. 

 

It's a great pity that people who want to be outspoken don't seem to be able to take any criticism and respond by making a personal attack in an insulting way - in this case using phrases and terms like:

 

"Please do not continue with your insulting postings, which appears to be a trait of yours"

 

"You really are a rude and bombastic person." 

 

And of course I hadn't been insulting to him at all, I'd merely criticised his ideas.  Episodes like these do spoil a thread, as perhaps on this occasion, but on this occasion I think it was worth reassuring novices that cautionary warnings about Calais being given on this Forum are not without foundation, as this contributor was implying.

 

Calais is by no means a no-go area for MHs, especially for outbound crossings as long as you don't hang around in Calais.  But coming home involves a risk of having to run something of a gauntlet to get to Calais Port, so you need to take an informed view - and Dunkirk provides a viable alternative.

 

 

 

[aka4ajax]

I agree with you 100%.

I am a security manager working in North Africa, and not phased by a many things. However I do when with my family like to ensure they are not put in unavoidable harms way.

I had not done my due diligence on the Port of Calais and having read the news reports and seen the pictures on the TV last month, believed it was all done now and moved off to Dunkirk.

However as I have seen MYSELF and witnessed MYSELF, plus now supported by recent news articles.

Calais still has the potential to cause harm, and as such is a considerable risk that our fellow MH forum users need to make there own assessment of.

During my crossing we were safe, but maybe it was also down to my understanding that the migrants we seen in the car park, need to given no oppertunities to board your MH or allowed to see if anything is desirable onboard for them to steal. After all they are desperate people and living through hard times.

I would like to add, I do sympthasise with some of them and would like to help, but opening our borders or encouraging them will only feed the source.

Neil

[sshortcircuit]

Having stayed two nights at Canterbury PR travelled to Dover port on 16th September for an 8:35 am sailing. Arrived about 7:15 and was passed through with no delays and boarded the 7:30 am ferry which was a bonus. Used the main road out of Calais to Cite Europe and did not see one migrant by the wayside. The jungle looks bigger but none apparent at side of road.. About 12 MH at Cite many of whom appeared to have been there overnight and again no migrants visible.

My experience mirrors others that I have read on another forum.

I did see a tv report of trouble with migrants blocking the road with a tree however this was at night and did not look like any of the main roads in.

Suggest if you are concerned, do a daytime crossing and stick to the main roads.

[Archiesgrandad]

We crossed Calais to Dover on Le Shuttle with a car and trailer, making a late night crossing 10 days ago and had no problems and saw neither police or migrants. We returned today at 0720 with car and now empty trailer, had no problems and saw neither police or migrants.

AGD

[StuartO]

Not sure how typical a successful breakfast-time return crossing is of the whole scenario.  It may be the best time of day to choose to return (perhaps because the typical night-time migrant attacks have finished and they have all gone to get some sleep) but it doesn't tell us much about the trend in the overall risks of returning through Calais.

 

These are varying day by day and especially with the current French politics (a plan to ship all the migrants to smaller camps across France is being resisted) are playing out.  There is no substitute for keeping the politics under review and doing your homework before you plan your return date and especially the time of day.

 

Breakfast time is currently a relatively low risk time for a return crossing even from Calais, although there will still be some risk of inciodents (including strikes by local French people) near Calais.  less so if you cross from Dunkirk.  Night return crossings are perhaps best avoided via Dunkirk and Calais and if you have to return at night, choose Dunkirk rather than Calais.

 

Booking your outward and return crossings separately makes a lot of sense.  You can book a return ferry crossing on line from abroad and you still get the cheap fare as long as you book about four days ahead.  Alternatively you can pay extra for a flexi crossing, to allow you to choose a crossing date and time at shorter notice.

 

[StuartO]

I should have mentioned that a breakfast-time return crossing might tempt you to stay overnight somewhere in or near Calais or at the Dunkirk Port.  This involves a higher risk of contact with migrants, who have often been reported to attempt to board a MH while occupants are sleeping, for example by climbing under bike rack covers as well as making entry into outside lockers.

 

In the current climate I wouldn't make an overnight stop within 20 miles of Calais.  I did stop overnight at Dunkirk Port last time but not sure I would do it again.

 

A breakfast-time crossing does have the big advantage of allowing a full day's driving in UK to get yourself home but you are faced with either taking the risk of stopping overnight close to the port or making a very early start to get there in time for your crossing if you night0stop further away.

 

[david lloyd]

StuartO - 2016-09-20 10:02 AMI should have mentioned that a breakfast-time return crossing might tempt you to stay overnight somewhere in or near Calais or at the Dunkirk Port.  This involves a higher risk of contact with migrants, who have often been reported to attempt to board a MH while occupants are sleeping, for example by climbing under bike rack covers as well as making entry into outside lockers.

 

In the current climate I wouldn't make an overnight stop within 20 miles of Calais.  I did stop overnight at Dunkirk Port last time but not sure I would do it again.

 

A breakfast-time crossing does have the big advantage of allowing a full day's driving in UK to get yourself home but you are faced with either taking the risk of stopping overnight close to the port or making a very early start to get there in time for your crossing if you night0stop further away.

The situation is changing all the time but for the last few years we have always stayed overnight at Calais aire at the entrance to the harbour ready for a mid morning train from Coquelles. This usually meant a fairly early start to arrive before check in time and get the dogs through passport control. On each occasion we have not seen any migrants in the vicinity (although sometimes ambling about along the main roads) but have seen an increase in police patrols. The aire is often quite busy with much coming and going so this may be a deterrent as there is always someone about.David

[Mick Bajcar]

I returned from Calais yesterday, 20th September.

 

The aire at the harbour entrance will close within the next few days and the facilities there are minimal, just enough to drop grey water and the toilet though they are still charging 8Eu for an overnight stay. It is noisy with construction work starting early in the morning.

 

I spoke to the attendant and he told me that another aire is being set up nearby and that the signs are already up, though I could not see them. He described as being on the inner harbour where there is a large flat car park that has long been used as an overspill for the harbour entrance one. It will have a pay to enter barrier.

 

The checks at the harbour seemed far more thorough than when I had last crossed in June.

 

Mick Bajcar

[ham]

currently in Calais the Harbour Aire is a building site now not a good place to stop with clouds of dust blowing every where It closes on the 30th September. I believe the new site is near the yacht basin. Immigrants only ones we have seen was on the road into Boulogne about 30 of them. I am parked up near a group off French CRS vans and have been told its ok to stay

[BrianBW]

On the 21st Sept we approached the Calais Ferry terminal and found we were being hailed with stones, coming over the fencing. The police could do nothing about it. We met a couple of car owners who had their windscreens broken. The traffic was being held up as the police was waiting for the Municipal roadsweepers to clean up the mess of littered stones on the road. Did not see that in the press.

[goldi]

Afternoon all,

 

"9th sept whilst waiting to load onto the tunnel I was talking to an English tunnel worker who lives in Calais and said that you need to overnight at least 5 minutes from Calais. We did not see any immigrants at 8.30 am. in tunnel area.

 

 

norm

[thebishbus]

We parked on the Calais aire mid day Saturday . Had excellent moule & frites on the front in the evening at the Amoret Restaurant, then a good nights sleep , caught the 6.30 ferry Sunday morning, not a migrant in sight anywhere. In fact we had no problems with anyone on our 4000 mile round trip to Croatia .

I would like to thank everyone who gave me advice before our superb holiday .

 

Brian B.

ps I also recommend the Camping-car Parks, good system .

[jak]

Boulogne aire on northern shoreline 6 euros or free if you leave before 8.00am. Good view of coast and beach, plus its quiet and only 30minutes from Calais. Aire behind casino is free and more central but more liable to be noisy. Stayed a week ago and would have no qualms using any time. Happy to park up and eat in town. Never saw any problems of any kind and baguettes delivered to your door by an attractive French lady at 8.30. Can't fault it.

[PJay]

Not Calais i Know, BUT, we returned from France via Caen last night .on the overnight crossing. There where plenty of border staff and Army, well tooled up !Though the sniffer dog, was not much use, kept going over to the fence, to cock its leg)

While waiting in the queue to board, we saw a lorry about to move into the controlled area,when the back door flew open! It stopped next to us, and was immediately surrounded by the said armed force and customs officials. Out came a young lad , and so the lorry was boarded and searched. Unfortunately we then had to move through the barrier, so did not see what happened next. So maybe they will now try other ports, IE Caen/Cherbourg (though much more open than Caen i guess the over night ferries are a better target, with the dark early nights of winter approaching

Have to say the customs insisted on seeing in all vans, and boarded us, looked under all the seats, in the wardrobe, in the loo, BUT did not look at the over cab bed area!!

The sooner we leave the EU the better, as the illegals all want to come to UK, as they get no benefits in France!!

PJay

[korky24]

Sorry, but how does leaving the EU have anything to do with the migrant situation?

[pepe63xnotuse]

korky24 - 2016-10-11 9:55 PM

 

Sorry, but how does leaving the EU have anything to do with the migrant situation?

 

'Haven't you heard?. Apparently, for some, the EU is to blame for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-I-n-g (lol) ;-)

 

On a serious note, this must've been terrible to have been involved in? :-S

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37606113

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3833506/Migrant-died-Calais-ambush-threw-car-travelling-40mph-Father-son-involved-incident-say-left-traumatised.html?ITO=1490

[PJay]

korky24 - 2016-10-11 9:55 PM

 

Sorry, but how does leaving the EU have anything to do with the migrant situation?

 

i think leaving the EU has everything to do with migrants. We need to control who we let into the country, that and being told how we should live our lives by BRUSSELS

[malc d]

PJay - 2016-10-12 10:23 AM

 

korky24 - 2016-10-11 9:55 PM

 

Sorry, but how does leaving the EU have anything to do with the migrant situation?

 

i think leaving the EU has everything to do with migrants. We need to control who we let into the country, that and being told how we should live our lives by BRUSSELS

 

 

 

At the moment the French police and customs are helping us to prevent ILLEGAL immigrants ( not EU migrants ) from coming to the U.K.

 

Once we leave the EU that help may be withdrawn.

 

 

[pepe63xnotuse]

PJay

 

I know this isn't really the section for such a topic...but..

 

These people at Calais(etc) are trying to get to the UK because we are the UK.

 

They are not there because we are in the EU (..they have already made it into "the EU".).

 

So how on earth is us leaving the EU going to stop, quote "the illegals" from blocking roads, throwing stones at,and jumping on, vehicles etc... :-S

 

When we do leave the EU. the UK landmass is still going to be situated where it is now....with it's various ports and crossings...

 

We aren't going to sever all transport links ...nor are we going to miraculously float out into the Atlantic?

 

(Altho' I don't think the agreement is linked to EU membership, there's been repeated calls by some in France to change/scrap the 'Treaty of Le Touquet' ? Which if that happened would/could mean the border would move back to the UK...so all those "illegals" could end up running around on UK soil....)

 

The phrase , "be careful what you wish for", springs to mind... ;-)

 

Sorry Malc, I crossed your post.

[StuartO]

pepe63 - 2016-10-12 11:23 AMPJayI know this isn't really the section for such a topic...but..These people at Calais(etc) are trying to get to the UK because we are the UK.They are not there because we are in the EU (..they have already made it into "the EU".).....

 

The would-be migrants have accumulated in Calais because:

1  They got into the Schengen Area without being processed at the point of entry, as they should have been (by the EU country concerned), and were then free to travel to Calais, where they then faced Border Control.

2   France, faced with their continuing arrival in Calais over many years, has allowed them to continue to settle there illegally and in primitive circumstances and has failed to prevent them from attempting illegal entry into UK.  France also chooses not to process them in France as migrants who have entered the EU and instead has been pressing the UK to deal with them, because they think that the UK's attractiveness to migrants is the underlying problem and this obliges the UK to solve the Calais problem.

3  In reality the French baulk at using the necessary resolve and force to bring this escalating problem under control.

4  Despite no treaty obligation to do so, UK has helped in a variety of ways to block the migrants' attempts to make illegal entry into UK, eg spending millions on turning Calais Port into a fortress.

5  UK has also recently responded to a request for special processing of unaccompanied children in the Calais migrant camp who might be entitled to UK entry because they have relatives here, to help reduce the risks they face of  abuse in that camp. (The primary responsibility for preventing abuse of children in the Calais camp lies with France.)

 

After Brexit the separate agreement with France to allow UK's Border Control to take place in Calais will continue unless the agreement is revoked.  If France did revoke it, UK's Border Control would operate at the port of arrival and the UK would need to set up appropriate reception facilities.  These would need to include holding facilities for would-be migrants to be processed and procedures to turn them back if they are rejected.

 

These would need to include arrangements with transport operators to oblige them to transport rejected applicants back where they came from, in this case back to Calais.  There are international precedents both for obliging carriers to transport people back where they brought them from when they are rejected at a border control point and likewise for countries from which, de facto, they came to take them back, even if they were illegals in that country. 

 

The Calais problem is unusual in the scale of accumulation of would-be migrants which France has allowed to accumulate there.  This puts a big burden on Calais and the French Governement have come under pressure to do something - and  hence President Hollande's recent promise to his citizens in the Pas de Calais to distribute them across France, i.e. to process them as migrants into France or get rid of them by other means, as they should have been doing all along.

 

[Barryd999]

I nearly responded to this thread earlier but decided not to as I didnt want to turn it into another Brexit thread but it never ceases to amaze me how people can blame the EU for everything. Perhaps Farage's awful racist poster has something to do with it. All Brexit will do is make it easier for Migrants or Refugees really as that is what most of them are to get to the UK as the French will almost certainly move the borders and you cannot just send them back either despite what people say. Good luck to them I say. I hope they all move into Nigels street.

 

The other myth is that they are all wanting to head to the UK but the truth is its a tiny percentage that do. Miniscule. The vast majority choosing other countries in Mainland Europe.

[Derek Uzzell]

This may be of interest to anyone wishing to stop at Calais

 

http://www.campercontact.com/fr/france/nord-pas-de-calais-59-62/calais/52972/aire-de-camping-car-aire-de-camping-car-rue-dasfeld.aspx

 

According to an article in the November 2016 issue of “Camping-Car” magazine the current cost for 24 hours is 9€, increasing to 10€ when the new ‘ecological’ campsite opens nearby in June 2017.

[Brians dad]

Oh dear - it looks like our new Calais stopover will be in a spare piece of land at the back of the yacht harbour, and we will be paying more for somewhere that is well away from facilities like shops, eating places etc. The old aire was much better in that respect, but we will still use it when we go over next year, and it is certainly better than anything that Dover can provide.