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Brexit borders funding for UK ports

The British Ports Association (BPA) said the GB£705m includes funding to build borders facilities at ports where infrastructure can be built on site, as well as for the government to build inland infrastructure sites, where ports do not have the space. The BPA has been asking for funding commitments for some time and previously wrote to the Prime Minister outlining its concerns

Richard Ballantyne, chief executive at the British Ports Association, said: “These are helpful measures designed to ease the new borders requirements which come into force next year. We are particularly grateful that the Government has listened and agreed to our requests to pay for new infrastructure both at ports and at inland sites. We look forward to reviewing the detail but this is an important first step to help limit the impacts of Britain’s departure from the EU."

He stressed that processes to ensure that trucks and cargo are not held up at ports once border infrastructure is in place should be enforced.

"Port operators are keen to see the detail of our future borders arrangements," Mr Ballantyne added. "The Government is setting out its new Border Operating Model and a new publicity campaign for the freight sector and we look forward to discussing these with officials. About half of our trade is with the EU and so this is why we need to get the arrangements right.”

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