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Brexit: Queues in Kent could be 7,000 trucks long and last days, Gove warns

Dover
Dover

Ministers have warned of 7,000 truck-long queues in Kent after the Brexit transition period ends if hauliers fail to prepare for changes to customs rules, according to a leaked letter from Michael Gove to trade groups.

Up to 70pc of trucks travelling to the European Union might not be ready for new post-Brexit border controls by January, the letter said.

Mr Gove warned that in a "reasonable worst-case scenario", queues of 7,000 port-bound trucks could face two-day delays in Kent.

Officials calculate that up to half of lorries crossing from Dover across the short straits – about 20,000 – might not be border-ready. They “expect sustained disruption to worsen over the first two weeks [of January] as freight demand builds”, the letter said.

Lorries - Jeremy Warner
Lorries - Jeremy Warner

It comes as the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier prepares to travel to London for further informal talks with his counterpart Lord Frost as efforts continue to agree a post-Brexit trade deal.

But in the document sent to logistics associations, Mr Gove warned that changes were coming with or without a deal.

The letter added that while a winter spike in Covid-19 might reduce demand for freight, it could also make problems at Dover worse by increasing the number of border staff on sick leave.

Mr Gove said: "The biggest potential cause of disruption are traders not being ready for controls implemented by EU member states on Jan 1, 2021.

"Irrespective of the outcome of negotiations between the UK and EU, traders will face new customs controls and processes. It is essential that traders act now and get ready for new formalities."

Michael Gove - WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/REX
Michael Gove - WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/REX

The Cabinet Office document states that, in its reasonable worst-case scenario, between 30pc to 50pc of trucks crossing the Channel will not be ready for the new regulations coming into force on Jan 1 2021, while a "lack of capacity to hold unready trucks at French ports" could reduce the flow of traffic across the strait to 60pc to 80pc of normal levels.

"This could lead to maximum queues of 7,000 port bound trucks in Kent and associated maximum delays of up to two days," the document said.

Hauliers have been warned that such delays could be in place for at least three months, as alternative routes are sought and supply chains get to grips with the new systems and requirements.

Sector chiefs have accused the Government of failing to do enough in recent weeks to limit the threat of border delays.

Responding to the worst-case scenario document, Road Haulage Association (RHA) chief executive Richard Burnett said: "We've been consistently warning the Government that there will be delays at ports but they're just not engaging with industry on coming up with solutions.

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Economic Intelligence newsletter SUBSCRIBER (index)

"Traders need 50,000 more customs intermediaries to handle the mountain of new paperwork after transition, but Government support to recruit and train those extra people is woefully inadequate.

"The answers to the questions that we raised in our letter to Mr Gove and subsequent roundtable meeting last Thursday still remain unanswered - and our concern continues to grow."

Tim Reardon, head of EU exit at the port of Dover, told MPs on the Treasury select committee on Tuesday that the Government is "cutting it quite tight" with 100 days until Britain leaves the single market and customs union.

He said: "The Government has a funding scheme which is due to open for application later this month.

"Clearly that’s cutting it quite tight for stuff to be actually delivered and in place, when significant civil works are involved, by early next year."