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THE leader of the LiberalDemocrats onKentCountyCouncil has advised homeowners to stock up on food and vital provisions ahead of thewithdrawal fromEurope nextmonth.


vorce fromEurope, coupled with a lack of clarity on contingency plans, and enforcement legisla- tion still awaited, justweeks from ‘B day’ – the prospects for Kent are grim. While Government suggests


County’s facing ‘bad’ future Disruption


Cllr Rob Bird says a no-deal di-


“severe problems” lasting three to sixmonths, Cllr Bird says signifi- cant disruption will be ongoing: “TheGovernment seems to be liv- ing in La La Land, believing it can do anything it likes without con- sequence. Potentially, in theworst case scenario, things could go se- riously bad.” It’s a fear shared by lorry driv-


ers who will be caught up in the border disruption. The Freight TransportAssociation’sKent divi- sion says important details are still in short supply. With 10,000 freight movements


a day across the Channel, the FTA’s policy director for the South East, Heidi Skinner (pictured) says: “After three years ofworking with the Government, industry still has uncertainty about what paperwork will be needed. It is vital that disruption to supply chains is kept to aminimum. “Industry needs more informa-


tion on the routes they can take, length of jour- ney times and where to turn to for help and support.” When asked


byDownsMail, the Department for Transport conceded sites for


‘border r e a d i n e s s ’


TheM20may be free flowing just now but a no-deal Brexit could bring significant disruption, says Lib Dems’ leader Cllr Rob Bird


checkswith hauliers had still to be identified and additional powers to turn back and fine drivers using back roads to queue jump were still not law. But, it was confident its arrangements would keep the country moving, with Operation Fennell allowing up to 12,000 HGVs bound for Dover and Euro- tunnel to be ‘parked’ in Kent. Cllr Bird believes the wider im-


plications on services and resi- dents have not been considered enough: “Those living between junctions 8 and 9, possibly 9 and 11, of the M20, and at Manston will undoubtedly be affected. That is without considering the very real possibility that road closures


Local problems still unresolved


FOODsupplies for the south east that cannot come viaDoverwill be directed to London Port, Felixs- towe and Southampton


Pre-Brexit costs for Kent by the end of the year are set to amount to another £1.2m,with funding as- surances still being sought from the Government


Contractural arrangements for bringing in medicines have still to be arranged


South EastWater director David 10


Hinton says the companywill help in an emergency but arranging the distribution of drinking water to motorists in the event of delays on the M20 would be a matter for other partner agencies to lead on. “Of course, we would be prepared to offer all support needed,” he added


Hollingbourne Parish Council still has no information about who or how waste and litter left by lorry drivers on the M20 would be re- moved


Maidstone East October 2019


Operation Brock: TheM20 contraflow between junctions 8 and 9 could see lorries parked on the coastbound carriageway and two-way traffic on the London-bound side


could extend to both sides of the M20 and theM26.He added: “The NHS has some provision for key staff to stay in hotels, but what aboutGPs, childminders and car- ers, and other vital services that keep everythingmoving?”. “It’s impossible to mitigate for


every impact but the closure of schools because of congestion, garages needing fuel, winter weather andChristmaswill all im- pact the amount of people on the road and those trying to work within the extensive post-Brexit arrangements.” Reporting byDawn Kingsford


‘minimised’ A LETTER fromtransport sec- retaryGrant Shapps (pictured) on September 3, assured MPs its contin- gency plans will min- imise dis- ruption and help reduce the impact for residents by “ensur- ing trucks do not con- gest


the


local road network”. The letter continued: “Gov-


ernment takes the possible im- pact of a no-deal Brexit on local residents and businesses in Kent very seriously.” A report to the Tory-con-


trolled Kent County Council by leader Paul Carter com- mended the work so far, but continued to call for further tools to manage the situation including the extension of “yellow box” enforcement to relieve critical junction pinch- points and an assurance that freight capacity has been se- cured outside Kent, including at airports. Paul Carter added: “We are


looking to address the remain- ing ‘mission-critical’ issues ahead of the planned exit on October 31.”


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