FOLLOWING reports that a Newport haulage company claims to be losing £100,000 a month due to the humanitarian migrant crisis at Calais, South Wales East AM William Graham said: “We view the news broadcasts of people attempting to board lorries bound for the UK as events that are remote from our community.

“This is not so; many local tour operators and road hauliers rely each day on an efficient Eurotunnel transport system. At this time of the year, many people will rely on Eurotunnel for access to their holiday on the continent”.

The Tory Assembly member, formerly a Newport councillor, said: “Newport-based haulage business MCL Logistics estimates that European contracts account for over 30 per cent of its turnover and that it is losing the equivalent of around £100,000 a month due to delays at the Port of Calais”.

“These delays mean that goods are not reaching customers, income is lost on vehicles and schedules are falling behind”.

“Driver safety is a matter of urgency; they are facing ‘serious’ issues with migrants trying to climb into their vehicles and threatening them. Attacks to their vehicles is the primary reason why a Pembrokeshire haulage company has stopped cross-Channel journeys”.