Outrage over £50m Welsh border checks post that could be redundant before it even opens
The facility was built to handle the checks that would have been needed as a result of the Brexit deal that came into effect in 2020, but the new SPS agreement may make it unnecessary
Kier was appointed to build a key new Border Control Post at Holyhead
The news that a £50m facility constructed to manage border checks for goods arriving at Holyhead port on Anglesey may become redundant before it's even opened has been met with outrage.
The structure was designed to conduct sanitary and phytosanitary checks on fresh produce entering from the EU, a requirement resulting from the Brexit deal that took effect in 2020. These checks were postponed due to worries about potential price increases for businesses and consumers. However, this was merely a delay in implementing the agreement reached with Brussels.
In Anglesey, the UK Government allocated £47.8m for a border control post at Holyhead. The Welsh Government was slated to operate the facility, as the Cardiff Bay administration is responsible for biosecurity, food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls in Wales.
The Kier construction group secured the £41m contract to build a new facility at Parc Cybi, just outside Holyhead, with completion expected in autumn. However, the recent SPS agreement between Keir Starmer's administration and the European Commission, struck in May, could render this facility redundant.
The deal aims to reduce trade barriers for food, plants and animal products, simplifying and reducing the cost of trade between the UK and EU.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS for Ynys Mon, commented on the situation: "The chaotic situation regarding the need – or not – for border control posts is symptomatic of the chaos and costs surrounding Brexit as a whole. Large sums of public money have been spent, Anglesey Council has faced significant pressures, and we even lost the very important truck stop that went to make way for post-Brexit border infrastructure. We need assurances now that the taxpayer won't be left further out of pocket, but the sad thing is that much of the damage caused will remain with us for many years to come."
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WalesOnline readers were also critical of the situation. Commenter NoGoodBoyo57 said: 'Not sure anyone's surprised by this. Brexit was a disaster.'
Harry Crumb agreed: 'Brexit is widely considered a disaster primarily due to its severe and lasting economic damage to the UK. Since the 2016 referendum, the UK has experienced a sharp decline in economic growth, with £140 billion wiped from the economy and London alone shrinking by £30 billion. Key industries such as hospitality, farming, and trade have faced crippling staff shortages and rising costs, while supply chain problems and labour shortages have led to business closures and inflation.'
Dm68 disagreed saying: 'It is the lily-livered anti Brexit lot that is trying to water down the Brexit agreements to regain closer ties with Europe. If Brexit had been fully and properly implemented this facility would be in full use and there wouldn't be any waste of money.'
Middleclasssocialist added: 'Unfortunately the majority voted for Brexit despite all the lies we told them about hospitals running out of supplies, supermarkets running out of food, pension funds collapsing and mass unemployment. I suppose when you live in a democracy you've just got to accept that people don't always vote the way they should.'
AvidreaderII said: 'I live near it. It is a very expensive car park, lit very brightly at night, despite being in a dark skies area. Never see any trucks there, but it's lit up like a Christmas tree all year.'
Jonowales suggested: 'Just turn it into a ferry port where lots of people can go on holiday, fishing boat days out etc.?'
Mark Jenkins wrote: 'When you think about the housing crisis, that £48 million would have built a lot of affordable homes.'
Robert Price agreed: 'Another Brexit bonus. What shocking waste of time, resources, and political power the whole thing has been.'
Ian Layzell added: 'This whole thing is purely because of Brexit, blame Farage and the Tories. A border control post at Holyhead, by the UK Government, nothing to do with Labour, or Drakeford.'
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