Plans to minimise disruption at the UK’s second busiest ‘roll on, roll off’ ferry port in north Wales if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal have been set out by the Welsh Government.
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In the event of disruption at Holyhead Port following a no deal Brexit, approaching heavy goods vehicles may in a worst case scenario be permitted to wait on the westbound carriageway of the A55.
The section of the route at Holyhead between junctions two and three is the quietest section of the A55 and the impact on the travelling public is expected to be minimal, the Welsh Government says.
Holyhead is a key entry and exit point for freight travelling between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. If no deal is reached with the EU, goods will be subject to additional checks in Ireland, potentially causing delays to ferries and a backlog in Holyhead.
Before resorting to stacking lorries on the A55, the plan is to direct HGVs to an existing services area at Parc Cybi close to the port’s entrance, where 175 vehicles can be accommodated with welfare facilities for drivers.
Existing facilities within Holyhead Port are also expected to prevent HGVs from overflowing into surrounding areas unless lengthy delays develop. The port can accommodate 660 vehicles.
Welsh Transport Minister Ken Skates said: “While it is impossible to mitigate against all the damaging impacts of a no deal Brexit, it has been our priority to work with our partners to do everything in our power to minimise the impact as far as possible on Welsh communities and businesses.
“At the forefront of our mind has been the need to keep the Holyhead / Dublin ferry route open and as attractive to freight hauliers as possible.
“These plans for Holyhead have been many months in the making. We have worked with our partners, including the emergency services and local authorities to devise these contingency measures.”
The arrangement was in place as part of Operation Brock and has been removed in light of the reduced threat of disruption to services across the English Channel after Britain secured an extension to its leaving date.
Three lanes have been restored at 70mph for coastbound traffic while two lanes and a 50mph speed limit remain in place on the London bound carriageway in case Operation Brock needs to be activated again in the coming weeks.
(Photograph: Reading Tom and licenced for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)
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