Brexit: Kent County Council prepares for no-deal disruption

Lorries queued along the M20 during cross-Channel ferry disruption in 2015

A council has employed extra staff, stockpiled supplies and warned schools against closing as it prepares for six months of no-deal Brexit disruption.

Kent County Council is preparing for queues on the M20 and backlogs at the Port of Dover if existing border arrangements end next Friday.

Additional trading standards officers are in place at the port.

Schools have been told to suspend teaching and take on a "carer role" rather than closing if short staffed.

Advice to head teachers warns that closing schools could "result in several hundred working parents having to leave their place of work to look after their child".

It adds that this may "exacerbate the challenge to the community" as parents could be in "an occupation that provides a vital service to the community" - such as nurses, lorry drivers, social workers "or even teachers themselves".

The council, which is responsible for inspecting goods entering the UK at Dover, could use motorcycle couriers to deliver samples of imported food for testing at its laboratory in West Malling "in the event of traffic disruption," according to a report of their Brexit preparations.

The laboratory has also stockpiled vital chemicals supplied by EU countries, due to fears that a no-deal Brexit could "disrupt their supply chain for border control work, and conversely the food supply chain".

It comes as Dover Harbour Board chief executive Doug Bannister warned families travelling to Europe to prepare for disruption.

Meanwhile, Kent Police has been given £3.5m to cover the costs of its Brexit preparations.

The Department for Transport tested the lorry park in January

Under Operation Brock, HGVs would queue along one side of the M20, while Manston Airport, near Ramsgate, would also serve as a temporary lorry park if additional border checks cause delays.

Up to 6,500 HGVs could be held at the airport, with drivers issued tickets that will need to be presented at checkpoints along the road between Dover and Manston.

"If a driver does not possess a ticket, they will be turned around," the report said.

More than a 1,000 signs have been made to direct traffic.

Residential care homes have been told to prepare for a "sustained period" of disruption to the supply of medication and sanitary products.

A contractor that supplies disability aids to the council has asked "key suppliers to hold three months of stock," the report said.

Neighbouring councils are on stand-by to provide extra staff and the emergency services have similar arrangements in place under a policy known as mutual aid, the report says.

Residents have been advised to carry extra food and water and any prescription medicine in preparation for delayed journeys.

Council leader Paul Carter said "we have now got the best preparedness for disruption at the ports".