What is the Great Wall of Calais, where will it be built and how much will it cost?
We look to answer your questions about the UK-funded French migrant barrier
WORK has now begun on the UK-funded ‘Great Wall of Calais’ in a bid to keep out migrants trying to cross the Channel from France.
Contractors began building the controversial construction amid heavy criticism from some who claim the money could be better spent elsewhere.
But what exactly is the “Great Wall of Calais”? And why is it so controversial?
We aim to answer all your questions about this hot topic..
What is the “Great Wall of Calais”?
The “Great Wall of Calais” is a 13ft-high concrete barrier that will run along both sides of a main road approaching the French port.
An existing fence already protects the first section of the road, closer to the ferry terminal.
But the proposed wall will extend the current protection to cover an additional 0.6miles.
It passes within a few hundred metres of the notorious “Jungle” migrant camp, which is now said to house more than 10,000 people as they try to sneak into the UK.
The wall aims to stop migrants from mobbing vehicles approaching the port, in an effort to stow away on board to reach the UK illegally and claim asylum.
How much will it cost?
The wall is reported to cost around £1.9million, although the government refuses to officially confirm how much it will set the UK back.
It forms part of a £17million package of measures to combat the migrant problem in Calais.
Why is it so controversial?
Some, including many truckers, have called the wall a “poor use” of public money.
Rod McKenzie, from the Road Haulage Association, told the the wall would not stop the migrants from boarding trucks.
Instead, he said, it would only "move the problem further down the road".
Many truckers have said the money going into funding the wall would be better spent on extra security staff to guard lorries approaching the port.
Some have even gone as far as calling for the army to be sent in after a series of violent incidents in which migrants attacked vehicles.
Shocking footage emerged showing migrants building flaming roadblocks to slow traffic so they can force their way inside trucks.
And one driver now faces jail after being caught swerving towards a crowd of migrants as they pelted his lorry with bottles and other missiles.
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