The UK Government has revealed the list of future inland border facilities where outbound and inbound HGVs will need to present customs documentation after Brexit. The checks at these sites are expected to take up to two hours.
The UK expects lorries and their drivers to be “custom-ready” before entering these sites. Indeed, those who haven’t completed the “Check an HGV” service’s questionnaire or haven’t received a green or amber light from the service won’t be allowed entry. Even so, checks are still expected to take up to two hours according to the government.
>>> Check out how to be “custom-ready” before reaching an inland border facility <<<
What is an inland border facility?
According to the government, Inland border facilities are intended to act as a government office of departure (for outbound journeys) and a government office of the destination (for inbound journeys), where hauliers can start and end journeys when moving goods in and out of the UK”.
By having 10 inland border checkpoints, the authorities hope that the amount of congestion on the roads caused by Brexit can be alleviated.
List of inland border facilities and their functions
| Site | Location | Functions |
| Sevington (inbound and outbound) | Sevington inland border facility, Mersham, Ashford, TN25 6GE |
• start transit movement (office of departure) • end transit movement (office of destination) • ATA and TIR Carnets stamp • CITES licence check • physical checks and inspections traffic management |
| Ebbsfleet (outbound) | Ebbsfleet inland border facility, International Way, Ebbsfleet Valley, DA10 1EB |
• start transit movement (office of departure) • ATA and TIR Carnets stamp • CITES licence check • Defra prioritisation (seafood and day old chicks) • physical checks and inspections |
| North Weald (outbound) | HMRC inland border facility, North Weald Airfield, Merlin Way, North Weald Bassett, Epping, CM16 6GB |
• start transit movement (office of departure) • ATA and TIR Carnets stamp • physical checks and inspections |
| Birmingham (inbound and outbound) | Birmingham inland border facility, Birmingham International Airport site, BHX Car Park 6, B26 3QY |
• start transit movement (office of departure) • end transit movement (office of destination) • ATA and TIR Carnets stamp • physical checks and inspections |
| Warrington (inbound and outbound) | Warrington inland border facility, Barley Castle Lane, Appleton Thorn, Warrington, WA4 4SR |
• start transit movement (office of departure) • end transit movement (office of destination) • ATA and TIR Carnets stamp • physical checks and inspections |
| Dover Western Docks (inbound) | Dover Western Docks, Lord Warden Square, Dover, CT17 9DN |
• end transit movement (office of destination) • ATA and TIR Carnets stamp • CITES licence check • physical checks and inspections |
| Stop 24 (inbound) | Stop 24, Folkestone Services, Junction 11 M20, Hythe, CT21 4BL |
• end transit movement (office of destination) • ATA and TIR Carnets stamp • physical checks and inspections |
| Waterbrook (inbound and outbound) | Ashford, Waterbrook inland border facility, Waterbrook Avenue, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0GB |
Use when Sevington is unavailable |
| Manston (outbound) | Manston Airport, The Cargo Centre, Spitfire Way, Ramsgate, Kent, CT12 5FF |
Use when Port of Dover traffic management processes are put in place |
| Holyhead (inbound and outbound) | Holyhead inland border facility, Roadking Truckstop, Parc Cybi, Kingsland, Holyhead, LL65 2YQ |
Office of Transit and Office of Destination, CITES checks, ATA carnets stamps can be done at the Roadking Truck stop – pre-booking required |
Source: gov.uk
What’s will happen at these inland border facilities?
First and foremost, you must note that some inland border checkpoints – like the Roadking Truckstop in Holyhead – require advance booking. Drivers need to inform the Border Force about their expected arrival at least 24 hours earlier. Also, the Border Force must be informed if a lorry is transporting live animals.
This is the email address where drivers can inform the Border Force about their arrival: BFHolyhead@HomeOffice.gov.uk
After entering the site, HGVs will visit the Vehicle Entry Checkpoint before being directed to a vacant HGV space, explains the government’s guide on internal border facilities.
From there, the lorries will undertake customs and transit checks as required. During the processing, drivers must remain on site. Once the checks have been completed, the lorries can then leave the site to continue their journeys.
Not just the documents, but the vehicles themselves will be inspected on the site. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will be able to undertake vehicle and driver checks, together with any prohibition of vehicles as a result of the checks.
In addition, there will be inspection bays and the time required for each HGV check (excluding physical inspection) is expected to be a maximum of two hours. In the event a physical examination is required, the inspection may take up to eight hours.
Photo credit @ Trans.INFO