Green fears keep tunnel closed
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• Protests from neighbouring towns and villages may lead to a delay in the re-opening of the Mont Blanc Tunnel.
The International Road Transport Union says the tunnel was due to reopen in November for the first time since it closed after a fatal fire in March 1999 (CM 1-7 April 1999). However; a spokeswoman now says that because of opposition the reopening is likely to be postponed.
Last week residents of Chamonix and its neighbouring villages voted in a referendum on re-opening. Almost 55% of them want the tunnel to stay closed, citing fears of increased pollution and noise.
The IRU says France's new Minister of Environment is backing the residents, who are threatening to take direct action if the tunnel is re-opened.
Stuart Butterworth, operations director at TDS Morgan Freight in Clwyd, Wales, which regularly sends vehicles to Italy, Spain and Portugal, says: "The diversions we are currently taking cost us in time and in tolls. understand the residents' point of view but the tunnel Is vital for us."
A British van driver was one of the 40 people known to have died in the fire after a Belgian truck caught fire inside the tunnel.