I am no fan of the Scottish First Minister, however amid the unfolding omnishambles that is the UK government’s Brexit strategy, I have always held on to the silver lining that if Nicola Sturgeon were to achieve her political ambition, at least my children would be entitled to Scottish passports and perhaps in future be able to regain the European Citizenship and freedom of movement which is being stolen from them.
Whether Scotland eventually chooses that path is not my decision. I accept that having lived nearly all of my adult life south of the border, it is a matter for its residents and I will have no vote in any second, or third or fourth independence referendum.
However I recall no such plebiscite on Kentish independence – a decision which me, my family and indeed every other member has a significant stake in.
We now discover that the English nationalists’ infantile “taking back control” slogan had a hitherto hidden meaning. Taking back control of the decision to build a Brexit lorry park in the Garden of England, and away from local authorities. And taking back control of our borders with London and East Sussex to dictate that lorries weighing over 7.5tonnes entering the county bound for mainland Europe only do so if they are in possession of a Kent Roads Access Permit, or KRAP for short.
I have long noted the uncanny similarities between ultra-Brexiteers and the most hardline of Scottish nationalists – suspicious of experts, angry about facts and allowing brave hearts to rule heads. Indeed I know the Medway Conservative Group counts several of these extremists among their number.
Nonetheless, surely the Portfolio Holder will agree with me that the implications of such measures – the inevitable delay and inconvenience and needless red tape - are an unacceptable price for the people of Medway to pay. As a democrat, I accept the result of the EU referendum and support the pursuit of a deal which does as little damage as possible, but absolutely nobody voted for this.
So can I ask him quite simply - what representations he has made on Medway residents’ behalf against these undemocratic and unworkable proposals?
Minutes:
“I am no fan of the Scottish First Minister, however amid the unfolding omnishambles that is the UK government’s Brexit strategy, I have always held on to the silver lining that if Nicola Sturgeon were to achieve her political ambition, at least my children would be entitled to Scottish passports and perhaps in future be able to regain the European Citizenship and freedom of movement which is being stolen from them.
Whether Scotland eventually chooses that path is not my decision. I accept that having lived nearly all of my adult life south of the border, it is a matter for its residents and I will have no vote in any second, or third or fourth independence referendum.
However I recall no such plebiscite on Kentish independence – a decision which me, my family and indeed every other member has a significant stake in.
We now discover that the English nationalists’ infantile “taking back control” slogan had a hitherto hidden meaning. Taking back control of the decision to build a Brexit lorry park in the Garden of England, and away from local authorities. And taking back control of our borders with London and East Sussex to dictate that lorries weighing over 7.5tonnes entering the county bound for mainland Europe only do so if they are in possession of a Kent Roads Access Permit, or KRAP for short.
I have long noted the uncanny similarities between ultra-Brexiteers and the most hardline of Scottish nationalists – suspicious of experts, angry about facts and allowing brave hearts to rule heads. Indeed I know the Medway Conservative Group counts several of these extremists among their number.
Nonetheless, surely the Portfolio Holder will agree with me that the implications of such measures – the inevitable delay and inconvenience and needless red tape - are an unacceptable price for the people of Medway to pay. As a democrat, I accept the result of the EU referendum and support the pursuit of a deal which does as little damage as possible, but absolutely nobody voted for this.
So can I ask him quite simply - what representations he has made on Medway residents’ behalf against these undemocratic and unworkable proposals?”
Responding on behalf of Councillor Filmer, Councillor Gulvin thanked Councillor Paterson for his question. He said that with regards proposals for a lorry park within Medway, at no time had anything substantial been proposed. He clarified that the inclusion of a local authority within the Town and Country Planning Special Development Order 2020 did not indicate that a temporary inland border facility would be needed in that area and considered it to be scaremongering to claim otherwise.
Councillor Gulvin confirmed that on 9 September an email had been sent to the Chief Executive of the Council from the office of the Deputy Director of the GB Borders & Infrastructure Delivery Programme. This email directly stated that no proposals were currently under consideration within the Medway local authority area. In relation to the Kent Road Access Permit scheme, this was a KCC led initiative and it was confirmed that Medway had no involvement in its conception or implementation.