A Welsh port’s verdict on Brexit
Holyhead, with its busy port, has been a big talking point in the nationwide debate over leaving the European Union. Branwen Jones spoke to some of the people who live there...
WHEN Holyhead Port is at its busiest, 400 freight units an hour trundle off the Stena Line ferry.
Holyhead is the UK’s second-largest “roll-on, roll-off” ferry port after Dover, and in 2016 it handled the vast majority of the 524,000 lorries and unaccompanied trailers travelling to and from Ireland.
Irish Ferries has already told an Assembly committee that a soft border between Ireland and Northern Ireland would put Welsh ports at a disadvantage.
There was a risk of “significant displacement of traffic from the Welsh ports to ports in northern England and Scotland”, which could impact jobs and have “serious economic consequences”, the committee was told.
In the event of new customs or passport checks, the port would – according to Stena Line Ports’ Ian Davies – “come to a grinding halt”.
The impact on ports is one of the continued Brexit talking points, including at Holyhead.
According to the UK Government’s own no-deal continengcy plan – known as Operation Yellowhammer – if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, any goods travelling from the UK to Europe will experience massive delays at ports.
There would need to be extra checks on goods travelling between Holyhead and Dublin.
The Welsh Government has said that because of its Brexit planning, Holyhead Port can now accommodate 660 HGVs and more space can be found if needed.
There is also an option for 175 HGVs to use the existing Roadking services at Parc Cybi.
The Welsh Government has arranged for free parking for Dublinbound freight traffic at the site, with traffic management in place, while additional traffic officers will be on hand to help around the clock.
Road space around Parc Cybi will also be used, if needed, for 30 more lorries.
If all that is still insufficient, lorries will use the westbound carriageway of the A55 at Holyhead (junctions two to three).
In the EU referendum, the majority
of people in Holyhead and Anglesey voted to leave.
Here’s what the people of Holyhead think about Brexit today...
‘I’m not scared, but if I were young I think I would be...’
John Raymond Jones owns JR Jones Butchers on Stanley Street – only a short distance from the town’s main hub, Market Street.
Mr Jones is originally from Llanberis in Gwynedd, and identifies himself as a “proud Welshman’.
“What is there to say about Brexit?” he said.
“I voted to remain back in 2016 because everything was fine and there was no need to change that.
“Now it’s just a big mess and I am worried that people around here will lose their jobs.
“I’m not scared, but if I were young I think I would be. Whatever will become of Brexit will be their future, and they’ll have to deal with it.
“But nobody knows what that may be, not even the politicians at Westminster.”
Mr Jones has been running his family business for almost 11 years. With the UK expected to leave the European Union at the end of next month, he fears the meat industry could be under threat financially.
He said: “This country can produce its own meat, such as beef, chicken and pork.
“But a few butcher shops get their meat abroad, and at times, even outside of Europe. EU managed to make those prices cheaper, and so come post-Brexit, these meat prices will drastically go up.”
On the other hand, Mr Jones thinks it is unlikely a no-eal Brexit will lead to storage crises and congestion.
He said: “I don’t see it coming to that, to be honest. But if it does happen, perhaps less people will be willing to come here.”
“I do think that the people of Holyhead and Anglesey regret their vote. But people around here don’t want to talk about it.
“I think the majority feel like they have been misled and misinformed.”
‘I try not to worry and think about it...’
On Market Street, Catherine Virgo and her mother have been running Occasions Florist for seven years.
“We’re not a political family, so we never really talk about it,” Catherine explained.
“I didn’t vote back in 2016. I didn’t think much of it, but now I worry about it and how it’ll affect our business.”
Like many other florists in the UK, Virgo’s shop is mainly supplied with flowers imported from Holland in the Netherlands.
Catherine is worried that if the UK leaves the EU, it could impact her business.
She said: “There could be a delay in when the flowers will arrive or prices will become higher.
“I know that some florists in the area have already pre-ordered wedding flowers a year or more in advance.
“They are scared that Brexit will mean that the prices will be up or the delivery won’t arrive on time, then they’ll lose business and customers.”
Catherine also fears the idea of a no-deal Brexit, which could cause chaos on the streets of Holyhead due to the traffic.
She said: “If a no-deal Brexit means there will be traffic here, we can say goodbye to our high street for sure.
“I love this business, and it scares me to think that something will happen to it because of Brexit.”
“I try not to worry and think about it. But I have recently registered to vote. Next time, I will use my vote because it is important.”
‘I worry about my son’s future...’
Just across the street, Alison Jones runs her gift shop business called Kalico.
“I voted to remain in 2016,” she said. “The town of Holyhead has benefited so much from the EU’s funding.
“Their money has been used to resurface the road that goes through Market Street, supporting local businesses and the library here.
“Nearly £10m was used here, and I don’t think people are aware of that. If they did, they might have reconsidered their vote.”
On top of this, Alison fears for her one-year-old son Ows’ future.
“I’m scared. Two days after the result of the referendum, our suppliers’ prices went up. They have informed us recently that it will go up again in 2020.
“If they can’t sort out the problems we have now, how will they sort out problems that will result from us actually leaving?
“The situation now is bad and I can only see it going worse.
“I worry about my son’s future. If problems do arise and the opportunity is there, I think I will leave this country and live somewhere else.”
‘I think another vote is needed...’
Catrin Parry was 17-years-old when the referendum was held in 2016 and so she wasn’t allowed to vote.
She said: “I didn’t know much about it at the time, only that people were voting.
“I think if I did have the chance to vote, I would have voted to remain.”
Now, the 19-year-old works as an office co-ordinator at Mon CF – a community-led regeneration group that helps young people get into work.
“Since working at Mon CF as an office co-ordinator, I have come to understand it a bit more,” she explained. “I know it will affect us, the younger generation, and that is why I think another vote is needed.
“And this time round, I think people will change their minds.”
‘I don’t think it will be as bad as we think...’
Alun Roberts is the business support manager at Mon CF, and helps people establish their own businesses.
Over recent years, the organisation has depended on the EU for funding, including a £800,000 investment in a project to support and mentor the young people of Anglesey as they look for work.
It is because of the EU’s investment that Alun has found it difficult to understand why people voted against the UK’s EU membership in 2016.
He said: “I don’t know why people voted to leave. I know some people, whose wages are 100% funded by the EU and they still voted to leave.
“Perhaps they were hoodwinked a little bit by the campaign. “The £350m save for the NHS was a swinging decision for many people, and there may have been individuals who were not sure about immigration – that was a big topic at the time.
“It is a difficult one to know why, particularly when you look at the fact that Anglesey and Wales get a lot of money from Europe every year.”
Despite voting to remain in 2016, Alun could sympathise with people’s confusion about the current situation.
He said: “People are very sceptical now. They’ve had enough of the process – it’s just dragging on and on. People who are ‘remainers’ like myself just want it done.
“At first, I was so angry with the result. But now, as I read more and more about it, I don’t think it will be as bad as we think.
“I try to remain optimistic and think there was a time we weren’t a part of the EU before 1972. We could do it back then and maybe we can do it after.
“No other country has left the EU before and I think all the current issues are arising because we feel like it is the ‘great unknown’.”