Brexit funding given to ports

The Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, recently announced the provision of a £10M fund for which 16 ports can place bids on in order to construct the necessary infrastructural improvements which will be needed ahead of Brexit on 31^st October.

The £10M Port Infrastructure Resilience and Connectivity (PIRC) competition will offer ports the opportunity to bid for up to £1M each in order to fund infrastructure upgrades as preparation for Brexit.

Such upgrades, for which the Government’s funding is to be used, will include the creation of more space for HGV parking and container storage, as well as improving access for vehicles so that traffic may run smoothly across the borders.

This new fund falls under the Government’s pledge of a £30M scheme which will help England and its ports to prepare for the potential strain of a post-Brexit scenario, supporting ports and borders to continue operating efficiently.

Secretary Shapps stated: “Our world-leading maritime ports are fundamental not only to our success as a global trading nation but also to people’s everyday lives, bringing vital goods into the country.

“This timely investment will support ports across the country in their work to boost capacity and efficiency, ensuring they’re ready for Brexit and a successful future.”

In addition to the £10M PIRC, the Department for Transport has allocated £5M to Local Resilience Forums (LRF), which consist of a variety of local services including emergency services, in areas around ports so that infrastructural improvements can maintain a steady flow of traffic.

Long-term projects have likewise been allocated a sum of £15M to deliver infrastructure ahead of Brexit, covering the likes of both road and rail links such as the Trans-Pennine gauge which will connect North-Eastern ports with markets in Greater Manchester.

Brexit preparations across all sectors are now costing the Government a sum of £2.1Bn.

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