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Years ago nobody imagined that it was possible occur so. And yet Brexit is a reality. Many people in the south of England voted for Brexi, including Kent, the place known as the Garden of England. But now they fear that the area will become a huge parking lot for trucks. Semnele that it’s possible those things are already visible near Ashford. See a report from “Focus Europa”, a project by Digi24 and Deutsche Welle. The program airs on Friday at 11:30 p.m. and resumes on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Once upon a time there was a picturesque 13th century church in a quiet part of Kent, south-east England. Since Brexit, calm down site was smashed by the courtyard of a sea customs point near Ashford. The locals are exasperated.
“The trucks will have to be checked both when entering and leaving the European Union, only that the government has sense It’s too late for 80% of the traffic in Europe to go through Dover, “said Liz Wright, city councilor.
Some now regret voting for Brexit
And since there is no room for a customs point in Dover, it is done near Ashford. You will cross the 25 hectare complex daily up to 1,700 trucks. Liz Wright, Ashford Green Party Councilor, was opposed from the start Brexitului.
“Some of those who voted for Brexit probably now regret it. CSurely no one told them that something like this would happen. On the contrary, right? They were told that red tape would be cut and the entire system would be digitized, “says Liz Wright.
Actually, a lot of customs declarations will have to be processed. Punctthe information since a nearby gas station should provide clarification on the necessary documents. But the staff is not very chatty.
“We are not allowed to answer any questions on this issue. What I can tell you is that we are only here to help, to provide support. Our goal is to make sure that carriers do not get stuck,” says an employee.
Customs chaos makes drivers give up
Officials don’t really know what’s going to happen. This is also the reason that most truck drivers don’t even bother to stop and ask a question.
“There is very little information. And even the ones we receive are denied one by one. In fact, nobody knows what customs procedures will be applied here,” shows a truck driver.
Peter, a truck driver from Germany, is tired of this uncertainty. He only has one more flight to do in the UK and then he vowed he would never return here.
“It just came to my attention then. I’m willing to go halfway, then meet an English driver, deliver the goods, come back, recharge and so on. But should I do the whole route in such conditions? Never,” says Peter .
“It’s a sad situation isn’t it?”
– It is. Our roads are splitting. It’s a breakup, Peter confirms.
Peter doesn’t want to go through customs chaos under any circumstances.
New problems on the horizon
Things are also complicated by the fact that the area around Ashford is often flooded. In vain they make prey to one side, that excess water accumulates in high and prevents the work from progressing. Locals like those of The Coxhead family could have warned the Brexit minister on these issues, but no one asked for their opinion.
“It never occurred to anyone to ask the locals what happens to the water, where it goes. Instead, they preferred alone what they thought was right and which of course is totally wrong, ”says Mr. Coxhead.
“Now they started work on Sunday to recover. But I still don’t think they will finish on time. So what will happen to all the trucks? They will block the roads,” Ms. Coxhead said.
“I think if people voted now, they would vote to stay. But it is too late,” says Mr. Coxhead.
Conservative politician Paul Bartlett he thinks the same – even if your party supported Brexit. Now, try to find the good part of this project.
“The transportation department is spendingHe knows half a million pounds for the restoration of that little church. It will also invest in a cafeteria, which will add value to the community and build a new parking lot. The city will be more accessible, ”promises Paul Bartlett, city councilman.
So Kent, the place that the British once proudly called the “garden of England”, would become a kind of “parking lot of England”.
Editor: Luana Pavaluca
