‘NO MORE BARRIERS EVEN WITH NO DEAL’
Visiting UK minister’s reassurance to port over Brexit fears:
THERE will be no extra barriers or borders at Holyhead port – even in the event of a no-deal Brexit – according to a UK Government minister.
The port has lived with the concern that additional border checks would be imposed after Brexit – especially if the UK and EU fail to agree a trade deal.
This has led to warnings about lorry queues on the A55 if the seamless border between the UK and Ireland is disrupted – with little room at the port for additional customs checks.
But Brexit minister Chris Heaton-Harris came to the port last week to give “reassurance” to ferry giants Stena Line and Irish Ferries that no extra barriers to travel and trade will be erected on the UK side after Brexit – even if no deal is agreed.
He said until technology could be implemented that would not disrupt current travel arrangements the principle of “continuity” u ty would ou d be the policy at the e port.
He said: “We “We are not going to be putting up p any extra barriers or borders – we have said basically we are going to continue as we e are now until til we are ready to diverge a and have got all the systems system in place. “So “S there’ll be nothing on our side of the border bo that causes a p problem like that. ‘‘Obviously if we le leave on not good te terms with our Eur European partners we can’t dictate to the them what they should do on their side of the border. But we’d like to think we have very good relations with the Irish government and we’d like to think that common sense will prevail.
“But on this side of the border, we do not expect much of a change.
‘‘All being well people should not see much of a difference in the flow of goods, vehicles and people into the country.”
He added: “We are working on the principle of continuity of the checks that are in place now, ahead of any new technology coming in.’’
Prime Minister Theresa May will continue to push forward with her Chequers blueprint for Brexit in negotiations with the EU – despite it being dismissed in Europe and attacked by her own Eurospectic MPs.
Mr Heaton-Harris said: “Our aim is still for a deal and we are confident we will secure a deal in the coming weeks but we have to prepare for a no-deal scenario.”
Holyhead port manager Wyn Parry said the meeting was positive, with assurances given about future arrangements.