Meeting in Snargate Street, Dover, on impact of new EU port checks

A meeting was held in Snargate Street, Dover, on the impact of new EU port checks

Transcript

00:00 So what we're looking to do is over on the site of the old boat yard in our western docks, we're going to be

00:04 installing

00:07 two purpose-built facilities that are being constructed off-site

00:09 and that is the point where we're going to be doing the full EES processing of coaches.

00:13 So we haven't made the decision yet to fill the Granville docks. We still need to make that decision

00:18 but the project concept is to be able to use the Granville docks for the registration of cars for EES.

00:26 The Granville dock one is probably for next summer, '25, where the coaches will be in place from this coming October this year.

00:33 Dover Harbour Board, Port of Dover, are doing an awful lot of work at the moment

00:37 to really see what they can do. As we all know, they've got very limited space.

00:41 The French side, Cockel, Calais, they've got loads of space to expand as they're required.

00:47 So to a degree the Port of Dover's hands are tied,

00:50 but we're then working

00:53 with them to really

00:55 try and get things processed before they get to the port. If we can look at a way to maybe

01:00 process cars as well before they reach the port, then at least that will help.

01:05 We are working as well with the Department for Transport, with Home Office, to get funding really because

01:12 money is always key to this.

01:14 So if we can get more resource, if we can get more infrastructure in place,

01:19 so bits have gone into government really to enable some improvements.

01:24 It is something that actually the town, the people of the town, are very concerned about.

01:28 We've got people that try and got caring responsibilities and they're trying to get to people in the community.

01:32 You could have elderly disabled people actually not getting their lunch because carers can't get to them.

01:37 And then when you're trying to get your kids to nurseries so you can go to work, it's that sort of level which

01:42 I always wonder if the people in these forums and higher up the ladder, shall we say,

01:48 really understand the ground roots concerns and problems

01:53 that happened in Dover to Dover people.