A protest by amusement park owners has seen trucks block traffic on several roads in France, including the A1, A2, A4, A21, A26 and RN41. The protesters are demanding a clear date from which they can reopen their attractions to the public.
According to Northern French Newspaper lavoixdunord.fr, France’s amusement park industry want a firm reopening date set by the government.
The earliest such attractions could reopen is June 9th. However, the decision lies with local authorities, and it is expected that some regions wont allow amusement parks to open until July or even August. The lack of clarity, besides the danger of losing vital summer income, has thus motivated France’s 50,000 fairground and amusement professionals to protest.
The protesters said this morning that the trucks would avoid city centres and that they do not aim to disrupt work, only “be heard”.
Disturbances are expected on the A16 (Boulogne-Calais), the A1 (Lille-Arras), the A25 (Dunkirk-Lille) and at the A2 toll (Valenciennes-Cambrai).
As of 11am today, the truck protests were present in the following locations:
- On the A1 motorway in the direction Paris -> Lille (convoy located at Phalempin)
- On the A21 motorway direction Valenciennes -> Douai (convoy located in Somain)
- On the RN 41 direction La-Bassée -> Lille (convoy located in Fournes-en-Weppes)
- On the A26 motorway in the direction Reims -> Calais (convoy located near Calais)
Photo credits: Rémy Willem @Willem05146261 + La Voix du Nord @lavoixdunord + Lionel Allorge / Wikimedia Commons