A bed shop boss has blamed traffic congestion and new EU border rules for the closure of his store after just two years of trading.
Steve Pickering opened Sussex Beds on St James Retail Park in Dover after identifying the site’s “great potential”.
But he believes long queues around the city’s port have contributed to its demise – and fears the impending introduction of new EU border rules will only make the situation worse.
Delays of up to 15 hours are feared on routes to the port when the Entry Exit System (EES) comes into effect on October 6.
Highways bosses say they are committed to “keeping Kent moving freely” but Pickering says the disruption in the area has already taken a toll on his store, which will close for good on Saturday.
“Initially the store performed well,” said the CEO.
“However, our trading was seriously disrupted just weeks after opening due to significant traffic congestion in the city over Easter.
“Unfortunately, this traffic jam has reoccurred during every holiday period over the past 18 months.
“With no signs of improvement and as we anticipate further disruption from October due to additional port checks, we have taken the difficult decision to close our Dover store.”
The EES was set up to register entry and exit data of non-EU nationals – which now includes the British after the Brexit referendum – when they cross an external border of the continental bloc.
This will replace manual passport stamping at Kent ports with biometric facial images and fingerprints, which must be done in the presence of an officer.
There are fears that the time taken for tourists’ first entry into the EU could increase significantly under the new rules, leading to even more queues in and around Dover.
Mr Pickering says he chose to open a store in the town because of the “alignment with our key target group”, but says he does not want to deal with further traffic disruption.
“We have really enjoyed serving the great people of Dover over the past two years,” he said.
“We are pleased that our dedicated Dover team will be relocated to our Ashford and Canterbury stores, continuing to be part of our corporate family.”
In response to Mr Pickering’s concerns, highways bosses say they are doing “all they can to support local communities in disruptive times”.
They regularly introduce Dover TAP (Traffic Assessment Project) during peak times – a temporary traffic management system that sees trucks queuing at the port after the Roundhill Tunnel in the left lane of the A20 to prevent Dover from becoming congested.
A spokesperson for Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) – a partnership of organizations including Kent County Council – said: “For most of the year the road network in the area in and around Dover operates relatively unhindered by international traffic.
“However, we fully understand the huge impact on businesses and residents when there are long delays, and how this can impact people’s lives.
“The KMRF is committed to supporting local communities through disruptive periods, protecting communities and preventing traffic congestion in the area.
“It is clear, however, that however much planning and action is taken to prevent this build-up of traffic, the situation on the roads through Dover remains extremely fragile and further disruption is likely as we move into the summer. and further.
“Unexpected events, such as road accidents, industrial action or severe weather, could also affect plans to keep traffic flowing across the province.
“Until the government finds and funds alternative solutions to how this traffic flow can be managed, Operation Brock and Dover TAP are the only tools available to try to stop the traffic build-up on the roads in and around Dover.
“It is in everyone’s interests that a solution is found to keep Britain’s trade flowing through this critical route, while ensuring Kent can continue to move freely.”
Residents have also raised traffic concerns over plans for a new McDonald’s drive-thru opposite St James Retail Park.
Bosses of the fast food chain want to build a 24-hour restaurant on the site of the former Dover Leisure Centre, but there are fears the development will mean motorists face more delays.