The Government has indicated that “modelling did not raise concerns of significant queues for Harwich” post Brexit.
Harwich is believed to be among eight ports being looked at to relieve traffic away from Dover.
Ferry companies operating out of Felixstowe, Harwich, Hull, Newhaven, Poole, Portsmouth, Teesport and Tilbury are already in line to be used to ensure that vital medical supplies and other critical goods will continue to be smoothly delivered into the UK – whatever the outcome of negotiations with the EU. This is thanks to multi-million-pound government contracts with four ferry operators to provide capacity equivalent to over 3,000 HGVs per week -mitigating the risk of disruption as the UK and EU adjust to new border processes at the end of the transition period.
The Government is also consulting with individual ports on the introduction of infrastructure needed for July 1, 2021 and has opened bidding for ports to apply for funding for on-port facilities under the Ports Infrastructure Fund. Bidding closes October 31, 2020 for delivery of facilities by July 1, 2021 (or January 1, 2021 for early delivery).
There is concern – notably from Councillor Ivan Henderson who represents Harwich at Essex County Council (ECC) – that more needs to be done to mitigate against long queues on the A120 and surrounding roads leading to the port.
In a statement to Cllr Henderson, cabinet member Kevin Bentley said: “At Harwich, ferry operators operate a pre-booked service and there are a limited number of ferries that can use the route and so the potential for significant increases in traffic in the short term is limited.
“The port itself has previously indicated that it has significant holding space for outbound vehicles, limiting the risk of disruption outside the port. On September 14, 2020 through the Essex Resilience Forum, ECC officers met with DfT and Highways England who are responsible for management of the Strategic Road Network which includes the A120, to understand traffic modelling and contingency plans.
“Verbal feedback from DfT at that meeting was that modelling did not raise concerns of significant queues for Harwich. The central government departments responsible for funding and tasking Trading Standards operations have not asked that ECC increase its staffing for additional checks post January 1 2021.
“Along with other councils in engagement with Border Delivery planners and via the Local Government Association, ECC officers have highlighted the potential for an increase in inspections at border sites, or inland, due to the requirement to inspect EEA goods, the potential for changes in sourcing of products after transition to new suppliers and more broadly due to proposed changes in the UK Internal market. ECC officers and those of other councils have also highlighted the recruitment and training timescales needed.”
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