EUROPE

UK tackles no-deal Brexit with test HGV route

8 years ago

The UK government has been preparing for a no-deal Brexit scenario by trialling a 20-mile lorry route to the Port of Dover in a bid to ease traffic congestion.

A convoy of over 80 lorries took part in two tests organised by the UK’s Department for Transport from the defunct Manston Airport near Ramsgate, Kent to the port, however a Port of Dover spokesperson told Port Strategy it had no part in the tests on 7 January.

A no deal Brexit is expected to create extra border checks and lorry queues, but the port said it had made its position clear to the government that it requires “fluidity” most of all, remaining firm that border checks need to take place away from the port and it has no capacity for any Brexit-related infrastructure.

Operation Brock, designed to manage traffic flow and freight in a no-deal scenario, used the trials to test Manston Airport’s suitability as a mass HGV holding bay.

The trial has been organised alongside the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Freight Transport Association.