Test Plans For No Deal Brexit

The Department for Transport held a recent exercise to test plans for border disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit, however it has been described as “too little too late” by hauliers.

The disused Manston Airport in Kent was used as the location for the exercise, with a total of 89 lorries taking part in two test runs from the airport to the Port of Dover on a 20-mile route.

The objective of the trial, named – Operation Brock, was to to test the airport site’s suitability as a mass HGV holding bay.

However, hauliers have claimed the tests are not helpful as the exercise can not duplicate the reality of 4,000 trucks that would be held at Manston Airport.

On some days more than 10,000 freight vehicles pass through Dover, with an industry report also stating that customs checks on imports from outside the common market can take between 5 to 45 minutes per vehicle.

Port officials have warned that increasing the average time it takes to clear customs by as little as two minutes could lead to 17-mile traffic jams.

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