Pounds for ports
Overall, 16 ports across England are receiving a share of a multimillion-pound funding pot to help their preparations for Brexit on 31 October. The British department for transport (DfT) revealed the successful bidders of the port infrastructure resilience and connectivity (Pirc) competition worth GBP 10 million, which offers ports up to GBP 1 million each to deliver important infrastructure upgrades.
The fund comes as part of a GBP 30 million government scheme, announced last month, to bolster ports across England and ensure that they continue to operate efficiently post-Brexit. Alongside the GBP 10 million Pirc fund, the DfT has provided GBP 5 million to local resilience forums (LRF) – partnerships made up of representatives from local public services, including the emergency services - in areas with key freight ports to help them build infrastructure improvements and ensure traffic continues to flow smoothly.
A further GBP 15 million will go towards the development of longer-term projects to improve road and rail links to ports. (fd)