Dover and Brexit

We live about two miles north of Dover, and when the wind is in the right direction we can hear the ferry engines and tannoy announcements. We need to use the roads to go to work, or shopping, or visiting friends, as the Eastern Docks is working about 90% of capacity, it only takes a minor incident to create delays and tailbacks that quickly stretch back to Folkestone and beyond. Although the jams are a nightmare for those stuck, and in worse case scenario, a car can take 12 hours to drive the 100 km to Dover down the M20, or through the diversions as was the case in 2015. Not just us in Dover, but all over Kent finds that the motorways are closed to be lorry parks, and all other traffic goes on the A roads. It is chaos.

Worse case was when we had 12 weeks of Operation Stack, including the unprecedented phase 4 resulting in both carriageways of the M20 being closed.

Due to market forces, once the Channel Tunnel opened, ports in Folkestone and Ramsgate closed, as did the jetfoil and hovercraft services from DOver. The rail docks at the Western Docks closed down as rail freight went through the tunnel.

Linkspans at Folkestone and Dover Western Docks have been taken down, whilst the ones at Ramsgate have not been used in 5 years.

Since the Single Market was introduced, the plan has been to streamline traffic in both directions through the town and county. Freight traffic call in the Port Early Services near to Hythe to have paperwork checked, and then progress through the town and onto the ferry.

If UK were to leave the CU in particular, checks that take two minutes could stretch to half an hour, creating instant hold ups and jams. And if traffic arrives at the back of the queue quicker than the front moves, it will grow longer and longer.

There is only minimal space to hold lorries at either Dover or Port Early and apart from the usual Operation Stack on the motorway, the only other option currently is using Manston Airport, the road between there and Dover is part single carriageway and the Freight Hauliers Assoc. have already said that is not suitable for stacking freight for Dover, possibly reopening Ramsgate might be an option, but currently that is uneconomic with the cost of ferries, maintenance and the crossing time for several hours compared to the 80 minutes from Dover.

A lorry park was planned near to the Port Early site, but the planning permission failed to include and environmental impact assessment and so had to be withdrawn, and that's before the lengthy planning process and opposition from locals taken into consideration.

Without Dover operating as it does now, freight will be choked, and there will be shortages of imported food and goods, as well and stifling any exports. So, the NI/Irish border isn't the only major issue, getting how Dover works and creating no additional delays is critical. Coupled with the time and cost of any additional facilities for more customs and immigration staff (still not started on recruitment of those), an IT system and offices and facilities for them to work from.

Remember, UK could crash out of the EU with no deal if there is a failure in the multiple ratification processes both here in UK and across the EU27, the EU Parliament and regional assemblies. With the clock ticking, it could be a case of who blinks first.