Contraflow arrangements on the M20 approaching the Port of Dover have been stood down, after they were put in place last year to mitigate the impact of potential border disruption after the end of the Brexit transition period.
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Deactivation of Operation Brock came after latest figures on UK trade from the Office for National Statistics showed a 46% increase in exports to the European Union in February, following the record 42% fall recorded in January. Imported goods also rose by 7% after a fall of 30% in January.
Logistics UK policy manager for the south Heidi Skinner said the decision to deactivate the M20 contraflow – which involved removal of a concrete barrier from a 24km stretch of the Kent motorway – would support the smooth flow of trade to and from the UK.
She also welcomed the abolition of a need for vehicles leaving the country at Dover to obtain a ‘Kent Access Permit’ confirming they have the correct documents to complete the crossing.
“We are now urging Government and industry to ensure the entire supply chain is ready for the introduction of further EU-UK border controls from 1 January 2022 to keep trade flowing freely in the months and years to come,” she said.
The Road Haulage Association welcomed the increase in exports to the EU, but its managing director for policy and public affairs Rod McKenzie said “we will be looking for a much more stable and improving picture in the coming months”.
“It’s far too early to say we are out of the woods on new border and customs arrangements, these are still causing considerable pain for many companies and operators wrapped in red tape,” he added.
The moveable concrete barrier took two days to remove from the M20 over the weekend, with works completing on Monday morning. Kent County Council senior highways manager Toby Howe said “the much anticipated disruption” at the border did not materialise, adding that “hundreds of thousands of lorries have travelled via Operation Brock through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel since January”.
Kent Resilience Forum chair Nikki Faulconbridge of Kent Police said: “With freight volumes back to normal, customs rules better understood and Covid-19 testing sites now well established across the UK, the time is right for the Operation Brock contraflow to be removed.
“It is however important to note that the barrier will remain on the hard shoulder and can be activated again in the future if necessary.”
(Photograph: @ProImages)
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