The government will spend £705m to secure Great Britain’s border after leaving the EU, including a lorry park in Kent to deal with potential disruption.
The new funding, for border infrastructure, jobs and technology, will ensure the UK’s border systems are “fully operational” after the UK has fully left the EU from 1 January 2021, the government said.
It will include up to £470m to build the port and inland infrastructure needed to ensure compliance with customs procedures and controls.
The government has been practising how to hold lorries in Kent in anticipation of delays when the Brexit transition period ends
£235m will be allocated to IT systems and staffing, including £10m for 500 more Border Force personnel, £20m for new equipment and more than £100m to develop HMRC systems to “reduce the burden on traders”.
Cabinet minister Michael Gove said: “We are taking back control of our borders, and leaving the single market and the customs union at the end of this year bringing both changes and significant opportunities for which we all need to prepare. That is why we are announcing this major package of investment today.
“With or without further agreement with the EU, this £705m will ensure that the necessary infrastructure, tech and border personnel are in place so that our traders and the border industry are able to manage the changes and seize the opportunities as we lay the foundations for the world’s most effective and secure border.”
As part of the new infrastructure, the government has purchased land 20 miles from the Port of Dover in Ashford for a new border control centre and lorry park, with work due to start on Monday.
In a letter to residents, which has since been published on Facebook, junior transport minister Rachel Maclean said plans had not yet been finalised for the site but it “is anticipated to form part of the department’s strategy to minimise potential disruption at Kent ports”.
“This is likely to involve temporary capacity for the holding of delayed HGVs and facilities for border-related controls to be carried out by government agencies (eg HM Revenue and Customs),” the minister said.
Lorry park may last ‘years’ after Brexit
Former cabinet minister and local MP Damian Green said the site, which is known as MOJO, would initially be used as a lorry park to deal with expected queues before being turned into a checking facility.
While he supported the new customs centre, Mr Green told Sky News he objected to the land being used as a lorry park as it will “take up much more space” and has been “sprung on the area with no consultation”.
The exact size of the site is not known, but local Conservative councillor Paul Bartlett said he believed it would be bigger than the 11 hectares (27 acres) reported by the Guardian newspaper.
He added that the new development would bring much-needed employment to the area, but cautioned the government against using the land just to deal with delays.
“We do not want the site used as an Operation Brock-type lorry park,” he said.
“We want the high end-use for HMRC, trading standards and scientific testing service.”
Operation Brock saw changes to motorway traffic flows put in place in the South East of England to deal with congestion that could have been caused by a no deal Brexit.
The land will be used for a lorry park at first as queues for ferries are expected after the transition period
Fencing will be installed at the Kent location on Monday along with preparatory work such as weeding and the construction of a temporary site office.
There has been concern that new Brexit customs checks could lead to backlogs at the border and delays on roads in the South East of England.
Earlier this week, a letter from international trade secretary Liz Truss was leaked to the Business Insider website in which the cabinet minister expressed her concern about the UK’s ability to properly control borders after the transition period has come to an end next year.
A Department for Transport spokesman did not deny the letter was genuine but told Sky News the government does not comment on leaks.