The future of a historic Grade I-listed church has been thrown into doubt after land right next to it has started to be converted into a Brexit lorry park.
Medieval St Mary’s Church, which was built in the 13th century in Sevington, Kent, is now seen surrounded by a 27-acre construction site in preparation for Britain’s exit from the EU.
It is separated from the building work by only a hedge.
The site is going to be a large customs clearance depot, which could house up to 2,000 lorries in the event of border delays.
The field is one of 10 sites around the country marked for potential border infrastructure.
The Government has given itself powers to buy this land and build on it without consulting local authorities or residents first.
Work is already underway at other sites in Ashford, Birmingham, Ebbsfleet, North Weald, Thames Gateway and Warrington. Work is yet to start on sites in Holyhead, South Wales and Dover.
There are another 19 sites across the country marked by the Government, but there are no plans to build on them at this stage.
The sites have been set aside due to fears of huge delays at the border – potentially clogging up roads and motorways in Kent – at the beginning of 2021.
It comes after the Government confirmed a few months ago it will impose an ‘internal border’ around Kent to prevent lorries without a permit entering the county.
The sale of the land next to St Mary’s Church to the Government means plans to develop the building into a community hub have been put on hold.
The church was due to receive £450,000 towards converting the building into a community hub, the Church Times reports.
The neighbouring land was owned by insurance firm AXA, which had offered the money as part of plans to build a warehouse complex on the site before it was sold to the Government earlier this year.
A spokesperson for Canterbury diocese told the Church Times: ‘As part of their ownership of the land, the Government have taken on all of the obligations that apply to this ownership when it was transferred from AXA.’
But she said ‘no detailed discussions’ had taken place and added: ‘Nor is anything yet confirmed with regards to taking forward our long-planned renovation work.’
The renovation plans included a new car park, new floors and tiling, a kitchen, improved lighting and heating, and repairs to the roof, timbers, and stonework.
The villages of Sevington and Mersham, which are served by St Mary’s Church, are 15 miles from the Channel Tunnel and 20 miles from the country’s biggest ferry port in Dover.
Four million trucks travel through the Channel Tunnel and ferry port a year, filled with food and other essential items.
Goods moved between Europe and Britain freely while the UK was part of the EU’s single market and customs union.
But an economic break will take place after the transition period ends on December 31, meaning Britain must create a customs border with the 27 nations of the EU.
The operation is being directed by HMRC and the sites will reportedly be operational 24 hours a day with permission to operate for two years.
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