Chance of better life post-Brexit

Surely the time has now come to make Brexit work for us here in Kent. Politicians have raised the spectre of queues at Dover because of border checks for lorries.

It would be perfectly possible to stop foreign lorries clogging up our roads by making them drop their unaccompanied trailers at Dover for onward transport by UK hauliers.

Dover Port once had an unaccompanied trailer park, with tug vehicles for shunting containers and sealed loads around before transhipment.

Calais and Dunkirk might find it economically viable to receive incoming loads and arrange for loading on to roll-on, roll-off ferries, or even short-haul container vessels.

Or the UK government could arrange for all containerised loads to be delivered by Channel Tunnel Freight. It seems feasible to bring fresh Spanish produce 1,100km in a refrigerated rail container train, since one of our supermarket chains has been doing this for years. Using electronic tracking and technology, the customs/border control and import checks can be done without stopping the progress of the goods.

No doubt it would mean that deliveries of goods would take more time – this cost (if it is one) can be balanced against the benefits of fewer HGV accidents, less overnight HGV parking, less pollution and damage to UK road surfaces and fewer opportunities for people-smuggling.

It might just be an opportunity for a slightly quieter life in a rather more sustainable environment. Michael V.T. Sharpe Orchard Heights, Ashford