The Cambridge Bar Hill Hotel has become a designated centre for hauliers who have tested positive with Covid-19.
The move comes in response to the requirement for drivers to provide a negative test before travelling into France.
The DfT has announced exclusive use of the Best Western-owned facility (pictured above) as an isolation base. The hotel is one of a number of locations that is accommodating mainly non-UK drivers who test positive.
Given its proximity to the A14, as well as the links to ports and the M11, the Bar Hill Hotel was the most suitable in the area. Truck drivers are now the only guests staying at the site.
Isolating drivers will be given access to food, drinks, toiletries, television and WiFi throughout their stay. Additional support will be given to those who don’t speak English as their first language.
On arrival, the drivers will be given clear instructions to remain in their rooms during isolation.
Environmental health officers have worked with hotel management to ensure that staff and isolating drivers are kept safe.
“These drivers are performing a vital role in ferrying supplies to and from the UK,” said Cllr Bridget Smith, leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council. “They have nowhere else safe to go so they do need our support in order to isolate safely.”
Any driver who fails to comply with an official instruction to self-isolate could be fined. These penalties start at £1,000 and rise to £10,000 for repeat offenders or serious breaches.
