Large Goods Vehicles: Wales

(asked on 4th March 2021) - View Source

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how traffic flows through (a) Holyhead Port and (b) the land bridge route for hauliers have developed since 1 January 2021; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the effect of direct ferry links from the Republic of Ireland to Europe on the Welsh economy.


Answered by
Simon Hart Portrait
Simon Hart
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
This question was answered on 9th March 2021

There has been a steady, continual increase in the roll-on roll-off freight flow through the port of Holyhead since the start of the year. Freight flows have increased each week since the start of the year and data for the last week in February showed there was almost double the number of HGVs travelling via Holyhead compared to the first week of January. However, freight volumes at Holyhead remain below 2020 levels.

I am having regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues about traffic levels at the Welsh ports and the effects of increased direct ferry links between Ireland and continental Europe on the land bridge route. The Government is confident in the prospects for Welsh ports over the medium to long-term. We are clear that the land bridge continues to be the most advantageous route for hauliers travelling between Ireland and much of mainland Europe in terms of costs and time. We are continuing to work with hauliers in the UK and the EU to ensure they fully understand the new systems and processes following the end of the Transition Period.

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