“We need serious mitigation and added investment to keep trade flowing” – Plaid Cymru responds to risk that Welsh ports will not be ready for Brexit

Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Ynys Môn, Rhun ap Iorwerth said,

“It’s patently obvious that ports aren’t ready. Digital infrastructure is untested, and physical infrastructure is pretty much non-existent. They’ve had four-and-a-half years to prepare, but like much of Brexit, people have been kept in the dark about what is – or in this case what ISN’T – going on. At this eleventh hour we need serious mitigation and added investment to keep trade flowing and to try to protect port jobs.

“A good example of the sheer shambles of the lack of preparedness was UK Government’s last-minute decision to take over the Roadking truck stop in Holyhead to be used as a freight checkpoint from July next year. Not only does it mean 28 staff being told just before Christmas that they’re losing their jobs, but it takes away an important part of Holyhead’s port infrastructure. New infrastructure should have been set up in good time, as Ireland have done.”