The government’s Inland Border Point (IBP) at Whitfield has won the support of Dover District Council tonight despite complaints the authority was making “blind deliberations” with no guarantee.

The council met virtually so it could work out its response to a government engagement process into its planned Brexit customs clearance site before tomorrow’s deadline.

As previously reported, the project is controversial because of the potential effect it could have on already congested roads and roundabouts on the A2; the imposing burden on residents living in Guston, and it has also been accused of ‘piggy-backing’ on established plans for a Fastrack green bus service by using some of its specially built bus and cycle lane.

The draft response they passed tonight recognised the benefits the site could bring to the area, specifically the employment boost, but it calls for a host of measures to mitigate predicted adverse effects to roads and quality of life.

The council wants:

* Dualling of the A2 and upgrades to A2 slip roads and the Whitfield and Duke of York’s roundabouts.

* Urgent answers to Guston residents’ areas of concern by providing detailed drawings including assurances from the DfT that the North Downs Way footpath will be restored to its original alignment along the Roman road when the border ark site is vacated.

*An Operational Management Plan that eliminates the risk of queuing HGVs obstructing the Dover Fastrack scheme or Honeywood Parkway.

Council leader Cllr Trevor Bartlett moved the motion and pledged to push for these assurances throughout the course of the project and to keep members informed as plans evolve.

He was backed by Cllr Nick Kenton who described the IBP as ‘probably a done deal’.

Cllr Nigel Collor, cabinet member for transport, said KCC is pushing for the same transport points to keep traffic moving.

Guston Parish Council has already formulated its response and remains firmly opposed to the scheme which it wants to see re-submitted for a proper public consultation.

The authority has proposed a different site, and proposed this to the DFT.

The land off White Cliffs Business Park has for 20 years been designated for future employment use. It has been included in a project that saw the development of the B&Q, Lidl and Dover Leisure Centre in an earlier phase.

The Department for Transport’s plans for the site were only revealed in the autumn, promoting allegations of secrecy, and the land was bought in December. Yet still - a day before the engagement deadline - no fine details have been revealed about how the DfT is going to mitigate the foreseen problems.

The Special Development Order placed on the land in September permits a ‘bypassing’ of the standard planning phases. The council is therefore preparing two reports, one as a local authority and another as a planning authority.

But still some members felt they could not support the scheme without the guarantees.

Cllr Kevin Mills is concerned by vague and non-committal phrasesin the DfT’s engagement pack like “we HOPE to continue to engage.”

He also felt it was wrong council officers were given information but have been asked not to share it with councillors until a final plan was sent to them yesterday.

He said supporting it without seeing the traffic operational management plan constituted a “complete and utter lack of guarantee” and added:

“It may be a done deal but it doesn’t mean we have to vote for it.

“I can’t support something without seeing the mitigation in place. I need assurance.

“We’re being bounced into this by the DfT.”

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