The £50m Brexit Border Post on Anglesey that could end up being a massive white elephant
A facility built to deal with extra red tape caused by Brexit could end up being redundant before it even opens. Leaving the EU in 2020 added bureaucracy on the border between the UK and the European Union.
This included sanitary and phytosanitary checks on fresh produce from the EU. The last UK Government delayed implementing the checks over concerns that it would lead to price rises for businesses and consumers.
But they did not scrap the checks and work continued on developing the border facilities to carry out the work. In North Wales, the UK Government allocated £47.8m to build the border control post at Holyhead. This would be operated by Welsh Government, as they are responsible for biosecurity, food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls in Wales.
Kier Group were handed a £41m build contract last summer and work got underway on the development at Parc Cybi, just outside Holyhead. Work is due to be completed by the autumn.
But the site could now turn into an expensive white elephant before it even becomes operational.
In May, the UK and EU reached a new SPS agreement as part of efforts to reset their post-Brexit relationship. This agreement aims to reduce trade barriers for food, plants, and animal products by streamlining processes and reducing checks, making trade between the UK and EU cheaper and easier.
It should be good news for businesses and shoppers and Holyhead port overall. But it could mean the new facility will not be required as most of the planned checks will not be required.
The Welsh Government said: 'We are considering the implications of a potential SPS agreement with the EU on the future implementation of the Border Target Operating Model in Wales. The Deputy First Minister will make a statement to the Senedd in the coming weeks."
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS for Ynys Mon, said '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.
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