• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Brexit: Over £5.7 million paid in rent to owner of land used as lorry park

Conservative Councillor Paul Bartlett, the deputy leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “All I can really say is that it would have been a commercial deal between a willing and owner and a willing tenant.'

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
2021-02-07 15:11
in Politics
Credit;PA

Credit;PA

FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

More than £5.7 million has been paid in rent by the Government to the owner of land used as a Brexit lorry park, it can be revealed.

The Waterbrook Park site in Kent has been set up to deal on a temporary basis with customs checks on hauliers and to ensure they have the correct documentation.

But data invoices published by the tax office, HMRC, reveal the cost to the taxpayer is running into millions of pounds.

To date, £5,797,440 has been paid by way of rental costs.

According to invoices, in December alone, the site’s owners – GSE Truckstop Developments – were paid £736,560 for renting the land.

Last November, two payments were reported – one of £736,560 and a second of £712,800.

Willing tenant

No payment was listed in October, but in September, two payments were recorded: one for £712,800 and a second for £736,500.The same sum was reported in June invoices and in May.

RelatedPosts

Nicola Sturgeon calls for urgent meeting with PM over cost-of-living crisis

13,000 migrants have crossed Channel since Rwanda plan announced, figures show

No 10 ‘will assist’ inquiry into whether Boris Johnson lied to MPs

Sunak pledges new ‘Brexit delivery unit’ with mega cringe video

The Waterbrook site is currently acting as a Brexit customs facility while work is continuing at the nearby purpose-built Sevington lorry park, which is due to become fully operational at the end of the month after heavy rain delayed its construction.

Conservative Councillor Paul Bartlett, the deputy leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “All I can really say is that it would have been a commercial deal between a willing and owner and a willing tenant.

“The only other thing that you could say from the government’s point of view you is that they will be collecting a lot of tax from lorries now that we are out of the EU.

“But we need the infrastructure and so we have had to pay for it.”

An HMRC spokesman said: “In July 2020, the government committed to spending £470 million on new border infrastructure to support ports in building extra capacity where there is space to do so, and, if necessary, to build additional inland sites across the country.

Value for money

“We will continue to monitor spends associated with the inland border facilities and will work to ensure they provide value for money.”

Last month, truckers had to queue for hours in the rain as they waited for border paperwork to be cleared at the Waterbrook site off the A2070.

Transport minister Grant Shapps told MPs fears of disruption and delays around the Channel ports because of Brexit have proved unfounded.

He told the cross-party transport select committee that he had seen little evidence of congestion or long queues of traffic, as many had predicted.

Last month, controversial plans for a huge warehouse linked to distribution giant Amazon were approved for a site close to the temporary lorry park on Waterbrook.

And Ashford’s fourth KFC is also going to be built nearby after Ashford Borough Council rubber-stamped plans for a drive-thru restaurant.

Related: PMQs 3rd Feb – Boris Johnson is creating troubles for himself and everyone else

Tags: Brexitheadline

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Firefighter’s “immense pride” after his daughter joined the same service as an apprentice

Legal action taken as pressure mounts on Government to keep schools closed

This is the gaping gap in the chancellor’s self-employed rescue package

Jo Swinson apologises over Lib Dem backing for coalition welfare cuts

Gossip – Manchester United striker saga, Spurs ready for bids for player, Everton to snatch Zaha?

Shocking pictures reveal damage caused to SEVEN vehicles by drink drive suspect

Singer releases full version of “Seven Nation Corbyn” with own unique lyrics…

Film Review: Boy Meets Boy

Just about managing families being discriminated against by punitive and unfair tax system

Fishing rights will not be linked to EU trade deal – Environment Secretary

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.