To wonder if anyone is providing food and extra sleeping bags etc to the lorry drivers in Kent

[AtlasPine]

It must be cold and miserable - 1,500 of them sleeping in their lorries with no idea when they will be on their way again. Some will be British lorries and some European I’m guessing.

Does anyone know if they are accessing hot food? What happens when their batteries go low and they can’t warm their cabs?

I'm in Dover and have been really worrying about it. I want to help but not sure what I can actually do. I suggested to DH that we should invite them over for food, toilet facilities, etc. But he said no because Covid. DH said lots have been parking up near where he works and the locals rather than help have just been getting their knickers in a twist about where they've been parking, etc. and moaning about it.

I really want to help if anyone has any suggestions of how I can do so, I'm all ears. We aren't all anti foreigners in Kent.

According to a news report yesterday, councils, charities, police, coastguard, are providing food and drinks. Thank goodness they are not being left entirely alone and dependent on their own resources.

Have just spoken to DH again, lots of lorries still parked near his work, they've been using the local home bargains to get food and use the toilets.

Just seen this in the daily mail

This is the French for you...i love it

Really hope the other drivers have food and warmth, must be grim

If you're a Kent resident I would get onto your local MP and ask them to press the government to provide proper help.

The Salvation Army are very good in situations like this. Thanks to Khalsa Aid - hadn't heard of them but will look them up.

Loving the photo Rufus

I'm reminded of when they broke through when digging the channel tunnel, only to find the Brits on one side with tomato sandwiches and flasks and the French on the other with a nice buffet and champagne

Khalsa Aid have provided some goods, but drivers need additional blankets, food, water and hygienr facilities. Khalsa would usually provide hot food where possible, but they were not allowed to in this case. They have large scale projects, but also a great deal of small local ones, so usually they would be providing meals on xmas day, assist with support in areas of localised flooding etc.

Charity and recognising the whole human race as one is an important part of Sikhism.

I guess Kent residents can get on a bike, stick a mask on and hand out some shopping.

Parking fines?! Wow.

We’re in Ashford, Kent. Our Church has signed us up to make as much hot soup as possible in our homes and have dropped off large flasks for us to fill for the drivers stranded in lay bys around here (saw lots this morning on the way to the Farm shop at 8am). I’m on my second batch of Lentil and Bacon which is being collected from my doorstep at 7pm tonight. I should manage about 5 litres.

Also Kent is a bit anti foreigner isn’t it... Yeah, we’re shocking. Every last one of us. Each town has its own branch of Britain First embedded within the council offices and if you can’t trace your Kentish ancestry back at least eight generations then the branch secretary comes round and makes you fly Union Jacks in your front garden until you can prove that you know the rules of cricket and can make a decent cup of tea.

Or, (and here’s a shocker), it could just be because there are lots of issues surrounding freight traffic and immigration in Kent that aren’t as prevalent in many other parts of the UK and ‘some people came, nobody minded or cared or even really noticed and everyone got on with their lives‘ is far less exciting news than some racist lunatic in Dungeness setting up their own coastal surveillance group, especially when Kent isn’t the most exciting place in the world and there isn’t much else for journalists to report on.

Thank you maddie. Does your Church need £ donations?

I'm so pleased to hear that people are helping out.

It must be awfully miserable, and insanitary.

We're in Gloucestershire and our foodbank and homeless charity has just sent a van load off. The covid response group arranged it so I imagine it's a nationwide / end of the right motorway thing!

@maddiemookins16mum

We’re in Ashford, Kent. Our Church has signed us up to make as much hot soup as possible in our homes and have dropped off large flasks for us to fill for the drivers stranded in lay bys around here (saw lots this morning on the way to the Farm shop at 8am). I’m on my second batch of Lentil and Bacon which is being collected from my doorstep at 7pm tonight. I should manage about 5 litres.

That’s so lovely of you, I’ve been worrying about this too but am too far away to do anything practical unless there’s somewhere to donate that people are aware of?

That’s exactly what i was thinking puzzled english truckers would be there with their service station soggy sandwich or a pasty

Love a pasty, that would be my go to 😀

Khalsa Aid have provided some goods

I saw that on the news, lovely that people in the area are stepping in to help as much as possible

maddie 💐

Thank god for the Sikh charity and other charities setting out to help. I am totally disgusted by the way that truckers are treated in this country. Lack of basic facilities and in humane conditions. All of the these truckers should be put into hotels and their wagons guarded by the army.

We got stuck in a port in France last summer due to the yellow jackets. 30 degrees, no shade, hadn't officially crossed the border yet. After 4 hours we got given a bottle of water between 4 of us. There were no toilet facilities. We were stuck for 8 hours and that was miserable but at least it wasn't cold and days on end. I really feel for them all trying to get home for Christmas

Oh my goodness!!!

Abject apologies to the turkish community

Apparently the lorry driver in my picture is turkish

Apparently (according to BBC ) Kent Council gave them a cereal bar each.

Thank heavens for charities and churches/temples etc.

Priti said there is welfare facilities here.

Priti's idea of welfare facilities is probably a hole in the ground for a toilet, tap water and whatever food has gone off in the nearest supermarket.

@EerieSilence

Priti said there is welfare facilities here.

Priti's idea of welfare facilities is probably a hole in the ground for a toilet, tap water and whatever food has gone off in the nearest supermarket.

I think you've been generous. When I watched her chew through the interview this AM all I could think was mealy mouthed twat will do FA.

@EerieSilence

Priti said there is welfare facilities here.

Priti's idea of welfare facilities is probably a hole in the ground for a toilet, tap water and whatever food has gone off in the nearest supermarket.

I’m amazed she hasn’t personally shot them.

@RufustheSniggeringReindeer we also saw that photo and were impressed - looks like he's well prepared- just hope the others are too