Holyhead border control post to sit empty despite Brexit investment

Holyhead border control post to sit empty despite Brexit investment

The final commissioning and staffing of the Holyhead border control post will not proceed, according to the Welsh government. Plans for the site’s future can only be made once the UK-EU deal is finalized, as stated in a recent announcement. Despite the delay, the site must be maintained as a potential border control post facility.

Following the UK’s exit from the European Union over five years ago, concerns about potential price rises for businesses and consumers led to delays in implementing checks. A recent agreement between the UK and the EU aims to reduce trade barriers for food, plants, and animal products to facilitate cheaper and easier trade between the two entities. Live animals and certain goods may be exempt from sanitary and phytosanitary checks at the border if the agreement is accepted.

Construction of the £50 million Holyhead border control post on Parc Cybi began in March 2024 with Kier Construction as the primary contractor. The facility, expected to be completed by autumn 2025, is located in the busiest Irish Sea ferry port, handling more than 75% of imports from Ireland to Great Britain. The site was set to create job opportunities in the area, with around 30 employees scheduled to work on a 24-hour basis. The Welsh government remains committed to providing sufficient notice to traders and delivery partners in the event of new border checks being implemented.

In the midst of ongoing negotiations between the UK and the EU, efforts to reset their post-Brexit relationship have been initiated. The agreement being discussed seeks to simplify trade procedures and potentially exclude certain imports from rigorous border checks. The future of the Holyhead border control post remains uncertain, pending the finalization of the UK-EU deal, emphasizing the need for flexibility and preparedness in the face of changing trade dynamics

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