Government confirm customs clearance facility will be built in Kent

The government have confirmed they have bought a 27 acre site in Kent as part of Brexit preparations.

The land at Sevington, to the south of the M20 near Ashford, will be used as a customs clearance area for goods being exported to the EU

It is next to Sevington Church on farmland by the new Junction 10A. 

Despite initial uncertainty about the plans, today Michael Gove MP, the Minister for Brexit preparations, confirmed in the House of Commons that the site had been secured by the government.

It will mean freight from Dover and the Channel Tunnel heading to London and the rest of the UK can be diverted off the motorway for checks and processing.

Earlier this week, Damian Green, the Conservative MP for Ashford said he was worried the site would become a 'de-facto lorry park' to relieve congestion in Kent.

"This particular site had planning permission for a commercial development and so they've alighted on that. But there's certainly been no local consultation, there's been nothing like an environmental impact assessment. So it is all being rushed through very, very quickly."

Paul Bartlett, a Conservative councillor for Ashford Council says it is good to have the uncertainty 'lifted for the area.'

He says: "What was planned here was an Amazon warehouse. It would have been large and intrusive on the landscape. And I think a customs checking point will be a lot less intrusive. Yes, there will be lots of lorry movement coming in and out, but Brexit needs to get done."

Mr Bartlett went on to say that it would be devastating for the area in the event of a hard Brexit, whereby 'every lorry has to be checked'.

Watch: Locals says they're concerned about the plans

Letters were sent out to local residents to inform them of the work being done on the land.

Preliminary works started on Monday (13 July) to begin preparing the site with fencing, the constructing of a temporary site office, and the constructing of a temporary access to the site.