Roadking truck stop in Holyhead could still shut as bosses angry at customs U-turn
The Roadking truck stop in Holyhead could still shut despite plans for HMRC to buy the site for a customs facility falling through. UK and Welsh Governments had entered into talks with the owners of the Roadking truck stop at Parc Cybi over a post-Brexit customs site. A Roadking insider said they believed the deal had been done except for the contract formalities and they informed 28 staff they were being made redundant and started site clearance work.
But they were then given bombshell news that this proposal was being dropped and two new sites identified on Parc Cybi. The source said bosses were “not best pleased, and that is putting it mildly” – adding they had “done the right thing” in the process by initially agreeing to a sale in the wider interests of the port.
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Now an insider said they have received two offers from companies in Ireland to use the truck stop as a container storage site. They said they were seriously considering the offers with some truck stop staff having already left for other jobs and the winding down process for the site underway.
A decision will be made in the coming weeks.
RoadKing in Holyhead (Image: Daily Post Wales)
As well as the loss of jobs, closure of the truck stop could mean Anglesey plagued with trucks parking up in lay-bys and other unofficial sites. Ynys Mon MP Virginia Crosbie is hopeful Roadking will remain in the town. She said: “As a commercial business, Roadking needs to consider any options it has before making a decision on the future of its Holyhead operation.
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“Clearly I would encourage them to make a decision that will retain or increase local jobs.
“I have been in regular contact with the local Roadking employees and I will continue to support them whatever decision Roadking makes.” Under the latest plan HMRC will take on plot nine on Parc Cybi to deal with customs and immigration checks with Welsh Government responsible for ensuring compliance with DEFRA standards such as the SPS (Sanitary and Phytosanitary) checks and traffic management. Welsh Government would take plot seven on the park.
There will be 120 jobs at the HMRC site and further roles at the Welsh Government facility. The transition period came to an end yesterday – meaning customs checks are now required on goods moving between the UK and the EU. There is a phased approach to implementation with “controlled” goods like alcohol and tobacco in phase one on January 1.
From July all goods will be subjected to customs declarations at the point of importation and relevant tariffs applied.
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