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Gove warns of 2 day, 7000 lorry queues in Kent post transition period

54 replies

chomalungma · 23/09/2020 06:57

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54260470

Gove warns this could happen.
And it's only 3 months away.

We have people who will be WFH now - which will make all this planning even more difficult. Rising infections which will impact on any workforce planning.

AIBU to think that this is going to be a major fuck up during the first few months of next year?

OP posts:
HoneysuckIejasmine · 23/09/2020 07:00

This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. No deal means customs. Customs means queues.

midgebabe · 23/09/2020 07:00

No, I think it's a major fuck up for a lot more than the first few months of next year

Particularly worried about food price inflation if they don't get a deal with the EU fixed

chomalungma · 23/09/2020 07:11

The cabinet office document states that, in its reasonable worst-case scenario, between 30-50% of trucks crossing the Channel will not be ready for the new regulations coming into force on January 1 2021, while a “lack of capacity to hold unready trucks at French ports” could reduce the flow of traffic across the strait to 60-80% of normal levels.
“This could lead to maximum queues of 7,000 port bound trucks in
Kent and associated maximum delays of up to two days,” the documents said.
Such delays could be in place for at least three months, hauliers have been warned, as alternative routes are sought and supply chains get to grips with the new systems and requirements.

In his letter, Mr Gove said: “Irrespective of the outcome of negotiations between the UK and EU, traders will face new customs controls and processes.
“Simply put, if traders, both in the UK and EU, have not completed the right paperwork, their goods will be stopped when entering the EU and disruption will occur.
“It is essential that traders act now and get ready for new formalities.”

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 23/09/2020 07:12

Where have you been? This has been mentioned prior to all the previous Brexit 'false starts'. They've set up lorry parks in strategic locations to act as holding pens.

My work covers movement of dangerous goods. The regulators have been instructing users not to move certain types because they don't want stuff that may be attractive to terrorists out in insecure 'at risk' situations.

giletrouge · 23/09/2020 07:13

Gove warns of this? Gove? One of the architects of our ills?
How kind of him. What wonderful foresight he displays. We are so lucky to be led by such...donkeys.

OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer · 23/09/2020 07:14

If only there was some way this might be avoided...

megletthesecond · 23/09/2020 07:15

Sunlight uplands....

nosswith · 23/09/2020 07:37

This is sadly not news.

Knittingmamma · 23/09/2020 07:39

@megletthesecond

Sunlight uplands....
GrinGrin
cologne4711 · 23/09/2020 07:39

It's all worth it for the blue passports.

BamboozledandBefuddled · 23/09/2020 07:40

And it's already being spun as all being the fault of the haulage industry. Nothing to do with the government, of course Hmm

DappledThings · 23/09/2020 07:47

Yeah but you know, taking back our sovereign rights. And blue passports and shit. Totally worth it.

HerLadySheep · 23/09/2020 07:47

There were many sensible people pointing this out but it was shouted down as "Project Fear" there will sadly be many many other PF predictions which become apparent in the coming months. For once I'm not happy to be right

Unescorted · 23/09/2020 07:51

Pre 2016 Brexit Ref this was raised as an issue, but dismissed as "Project Fear". Subsequently Dominic Raab was challenged about it when he was Brexit Minister - he pointed out to the HoC that Dover is a port as if it was a surprise and Chris Grayling went on to award contracts to companies that did not have any ferries.

The Government must be thanking their lucky stars that COVID arrived when it did.

Settleandcalm · 23/09/2020 07:56

He’s right that paperwork will be an issue Because it’s not possible to fill the right paperwork when they HAVEN'T FUCKING CREATED IT YET.

I mean, it’s not like they have had time to sort labelling out...

Also no prioritisation for fresh produce because hell, why would we want to stop people’s food rotting in the back of a truck?

WrongKindOfFace · 23/09/2020 08:17

@HerLadySheep

There were many sensible people pointing this out but it was shouted down as "Project Fear" there will sadly be many many other PF predictions which become apparent in the coming months. For once I'm not happy to be right
Absolutely. I don’t want to be right but what the fuck did people think would happen?
LakieLady · 23/09/2020 08:26

The Government must be thanking their lucky stars that COVID arrived when it did

Yep, Covid will get the blame for the Brexit-related economic disaster. I hope all those leave voters will own the fallout from now on. It's going to be a massive fucking shitshow and will cost the country many billions more yet.

And if I hear one leave voter complain about the traffic problems caused by this, I may not be responsible for my actions (although the chances of that are slim as I only know 6 leave voters and one of those bitterly regretted it within 24 hours).

LakieLady · 23/09/2020 08:34

He’s right that paperwork will be an issue Because it’s not possible to fill the right paperwork when they HAVEN'T FUCKING CREATED IT YET

This would be funny if it wasn't so scarey. It's what, 15 weeks away, and they haven't designed the forms/permits/online system/whatever, let alone told the freight industry what it will look like and what will be required of them.

The only consolation I can draw from this is that the people of Kent were very much in favour of Brexit, so to some extent they are hoist by their own petard. However, my area voted leave and we also have a channel port, so how the fuck it will work here, god only knows.

My county is among the list of those where the government has given themselves the power to build lorry parks without having to bother getting planning permission. Mind you, most of the counties along the south and east coasts are on that list. And some that aren't even coastal.

LakieLady · 23/09/2020 08:37

Sorry, that should be my area voted REMAIN, not leave.

As did 2 of the adjoining areas, actually. Maybe we should join up, declare ourselves an independent republic, and apply to rejoin the EU.

chomalungma · 23/09/2020 18:59

Well what a solution.

Have a border in Kent and stop lorries entering it without a permit.

Any lorry heading to Dover for onward travel to Calais will have to have a special “Kent access permit” with police and and automatic number plate recognition cameras ensuring they don’t get into the county unless they have the right paperwork for the ferry or Eurotunnel train

OP posts:
sunstreaming · 23/09/2020 19:00

And do you realise that a queue of this number of lorries would stretch for 30 miles?????

HoneysuckIejasmine · 23/09/2020 19:03

So, a barrier along the whole border of Kent? Sounds easy to do and not at all easy to breach if they try to just monitor motorways. Hmm

bellinisurge · 23/09/2020 19:08

Check out The Kentish Border on Twitter.

This latest bollocks has given me the biggest laugh all day.

TheMandalorian · 23/09/2020 19:08

Can't believe that fucking shit show Gove is in charge. What actual qualifications do most of these good old boys have? Oh yeh they have masters degrees in politics. How to squirm and lie your way out of any responsibility and blame it on someone else.
Great.

DGRossetti · 23/09/2020 19:11

I really don't see what the flap is about. Seems it's all under control.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-kent-internal-border-police-patrol-lorries-b552680.html

Police will patrol the Kent border to turn away lorries without an “access permit” in a bid to ease Brexit border chaos, it has been revealed.

Michael Gove said officers will use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and “other means” to block drivers – in what will be seen as an “internal border” in the UK.

...

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