Leader responds to calls for Border Control Post (BCP) compensation

Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council said: “We built our BCP to manage 80 checks daily, based on anticipated demand from DEFRA. Since it opened in April we have seen 80 checks a month, which is averaging two to three checks a day.

“This activity is not sustainable in covering ongoing operating costs, which are significant, and not forgetting the £6m shortfall in funding to cover the costs to build the BCP, as directed by government. It’s an impressive facility, laboratory grade inspection rooms working at critical temperatures, bio-secure chambers segregated for animal, plant and forestry goods, however this is only being used to a fraction of its full potential.

 “We need clarity on a long-term border strategy for the BCPs from government, to understand what their future use looks like, otherwise we are faced with an untenable drain on our finances. We hope that they will listen to these concerns from the whole ports industry and urgently review the situation.”

A letter has been written to DEFRA outlining the port’s situation