WARRINGTON South MP Andy Carter has accused local Lib Dems of touting “anti-Brexit scare stories” after concerns were raised over the impending Inland Border Facility at Appleton Thorn.
Construction work is taking place almost round the clock to get the site on the Barleycastle Trading Estate ready for operation from January 1 when the UK leaves Europe and local Lib Dems have raised concerns regarding the number of HGVs that will be passing through the site.
But Mr Carter, who says 350 new well-paid jobs will provide a much-needed boost following the loss of Shearings and Travis Perkins, said: “I’m slightly confused by the comment that there is no clear number of lorry movements for this site, last week I invited Councillors and residents to speak directly to the HMRC project director, Councillor Harris joined that call and
heard the numbers being discussed. HMRC confirmed that the number of lorries using the site each day would be between 250-300, well below the numbers being touted around by the Lib Dems, they seem to have conveniently ignored these figures because they don’t fit their anti-Brexit scare tactics.”
“The site being used is next to the motorway on an existing industrial estate, where HMRC have created ‘swim lanes’ so that lorries called for inspection don’t need to park on the carriageway.
“I’ve also agreed that Revenue and Customs that they will pay for cameras to enforce the existing restrictions which exist to prevent lorries travelling through Appleton Thorn and Stretton, we now need the council to install the cameras and Cheshire Police to manage them”.
“Over the last 12 months we’ve lost Shearings and Travis Perkins from these Trading Estates, so 350 well-paid jobs for Border Force and site management will be a welcome boost to the area.”
Construction work is taking place almost round the clock to get the site on the Barleycastle Trading Estate ready for operation from January 1 when the UK leaves Europe.
A number of trees have been removed from around the site but HMRC is compensating their loss with funds for Warrington Borough Council to organise new tree planting in areas yet to be decided.
