UK taxpayers will pay for the construction of a new fence in the French town of Gravelines, near Calais, where migrants gather while waiting to cross the English Channel. The fence is expected to cost up to £132,000 and will be funded under the Home Office Sandhurst cooperation deal between the UK and France. The agreement supports French border patrols, equipment, and migrant control efforts.
Local authorities in Gravelines say the fence is needed because migrants often set up temporary camps in public spaces near residential areas. Many residents have complained about noise, smoke from fires, littering, and frequent arguments around the camps. Some families say they are uncomfortable letting their children play outside, and others say they avoid opening windows during the summer due to smoke and smells.
The new fence will be about 1,000 yards long and around six feet tall. It will be built around Polder Park, where many migrants wait for the chance to cross to Kent by small boat. Local councillors stated that the funding for the construction will come directly from the UK side of the agreement.
The Mayor of Gravelines, Bertrand Ringot, said the decision to install the barrier was made because disturbances had increased in recent months. He explained that once camps start causing trouble, fencing becomes the only option to protect residents. Another local councillor, Alan Boonefaes, described how migrants sometimes cut down trees to make fires, which creates heavy smoke that unsettles nearby households.
However, many in the UK have questioned why British taxpayers are paying to solve a problem inside France. Critics argue that the fence may help calm tensions in the French town, but it does not clearly reduce the number of people trying to cross into Britain. Some say the money should instead be used for stronger patrols to stop crossings before they happen.
The funding comes from the Sandhurst deal signed in 2018, which was extended in March 2023 for £476 million over three years. The agreement is intended to stop small boat crossings and dismantle smuggling networks. However, crossings have continued, leading to ongoing political debate.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised the arrangement, saying the UK should not continue paying France without seeing stronger enforcement. He claimed that during a visit to Gravelines he saw French police assisting migrants in moving toward the coast rather than stopping them. He argued that the UK should not pay for local French fencing while small boat attempts remain high.
Last month, Gravelines saw clashes between French police and around 100 migrants trying to launch a dinghy. Despite police using pepper spray, many migrants still attempted to leave on the boat. This incident has added to the urgency of action on both sides of the Channel, yet disagreement continues on what approach is most effective.