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Council is ‘deeply concerned’ about plan for EU border post in Pembrokeshire village

29 Jul 2021 3 minute read
Photo by Reimund Bertrams from Pixabay

A community council has said it is “deeply concerned” about a plan to build an EU border post in a Pembrokeshire village

The Welsh Government has said it is considering Johnston as a potential site for a BCP (Border Control Post), while Pembrokeshire County Council has said it is an area is of “interest”.

The county of Pembrokeshire backed Brexit by 57.1% to 42.9% at the EU referendum.

Johnston Community Council clerk Peter Horton has hit out at the proposal, and complained that no “formal contact” has been received about the matter.

He also said the proposed site was “unsuitable” and suggested that it could have a “potentially detrimental effect”.

According to the Welsh Government, Johnston is one of a “range” of locations being considered for a border post that would “support” Pembroke Dock and Fishguard ports with goods coming in from the Republic of Ireland.

Peter Horton said: “Many local residents have contacted Johnston Community Council expressing concern over rumours of plans by the Welsh Government to construct a lorry park or similar installation in Johnston.

“Johnston Community Council has received no formal contact regarding this matter, and has not seen any plans or documentation regarding the proposals.

“However, following contact made with Welsh Government officers by Councillor Ken Rowlands, we have received an informal message with some basic information.

“The Welsh Government is contemplating the need for a Border Control Post (B.C.P.) to inspect the contents of certain types of goods coming into Fishguard and Pembroke Dock from the Republic of Ireland.

“Due to lack of suitable land in the immediate vicinity of either port, consideration is being given to constructing a facility inland, possibly in Johnston.

“The Community Council is deeply concerned about the possible plans to construct such facilities in Johnston.

“It considers the location to be unsuitable, due to the impact on the already over-congested highway network through the Village, and the potentially detrimental effect of a 24 hour a day facility on nearby residential properties.

‘More suitable sites’

“It considers that, rather than diverting vehicles away from their normal routes, other more suitable sites should be considered along the existing routes of vehicles travelling from Fishguard and Pembroke Dock towards other parts of the U.K.

“Please be assured that Johnston Community Council will continue to work to achieve a satisfactory solution to this issue for the benefit of all Johnston residents.”

Welsh Government spokesperson told the Western Telegraph that a decision has yet to be finalised: “We are considering a range of sites to accommodate a Border Control Post in south west Wales to support Pembroke Dock and Fishguard ports. This includes the Johnston area.

“No decisions have been made on its location and no decisions will be taken until we have had the opportunity to discuss proposals with stakeholders and local communities.”

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesperson also confirmed Johnston is one of the areas being considered for a border post.

“We understand the Welsh Government has committed to supporting the development of required facilities and have been undertaking an extensive search for sites across the locality to provide a joint facility to serve both ports.

“Sites near Johnston are understood to be a location of interest, but work is still in the early stages.”

Plans for an HGV tanker park at Pembroke Dock, which would have space for 17 oil tankers and 18 cars, are being recommended for approval by Pembrokeshire County Council officers.


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#1Chris
#1Chris
2 years ago

Hey. As we are always angrily being told “We new wot we wuz votin for!”
So I fail to see the problem.
People voted for food shortages, nurse shortages and lorry parks. Don’t like it? Take it up with Farage and the Tories

Last edited 2 years ago by #1Chris
Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

Brexit voters, you won, get over it.

Mark
Mark
2 years ago

They could call it “Check Point Boris” and pay homage to their favourite MP, brexit coming home to roost.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

Yes, Wales voted out with the help of English ex-pats but that shouldn’t mean we get all the crap from Northern Ireland not having a border. Johnson loves building things – rather than tunnels and bridges – how about an island in the Irish sea with a bridge to Liverpool. If he’s stuck he can always ask the Chinese, they are experts at it!

Mark
Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve Duggan

The only thing johnson has successfully built is a large amount of animosity towards him.

#1Chris
#1Chris
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark

And the 4th Reich

Hannergylch
Hannergylch
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve Duggan

By the time of the 2019 European election, the public had a better idea of what Brexit actually means, and accordingly 54.8% of the vote in Wales went to pro-EU candidates.

j humphrys
j humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve Duggan

Glad you wrote that. Readers please Google “In Britain we are doomed”.
Very useful against trolls who state “Wales has too difficult terrain for unifying road/rail links”.

Last edited 2 years ago by j humphrys
Llywelyn ein Llyw Nesaf
Llywelyn ein Llyw Nesaf
2 years ago

Surely one of the key features of a “Border Post” is that it is on the actual border (the clue is in the name), not several miles inland. Would Checkpoint Charlie have worked if it had been in Düsseldorf? What is to stop lorries dropping off a load of AK47s, illegal immigrants and bacon between the port and the post? Will there be a barbed wire corridor?

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago

This being sensible will do you no good in Tory Britain. What was to stop the Tories sorting this out in the 5 years they wasted? What on earth possessed them to lie to the voters and leave the Single Market? Which morons at Westminster wanted Brexit knowing the first thing about the Good Friday Agreement?

Best I can do is remind you that 79% of the UK population is English.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

The original plan for border checks for welsh ports was, Holyhead trucks to Warrington, Pembroke trucks to Birmingham, as there was no plan for Wales. We have to remember, on his victory show the morning after Brexit, when asked what was the plan by a ITV journo, Farage replied ” I don’t have a plan, I am not in government, the only thing I want is Brexit”, and people today are surprised at the lack of a strategy or plan to move forward. The snake oil salesman won, and now people who believed in him, can see it for what… Read more »

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