A CORNWALL councillor has warned that Brexit could have an impact on ferry services which could affect agriculture and goods coming in and out of Cornwall.

Bert Biscoe said it was important for Cornwall to start discussions with Brittany Ferries about what impact Brexit could have on the ferry service between Plymouth and Roscoff.

He said he was concerned it could have major implications for the economy in Cornwall.

Cllr Biscoe, independent, was speaking at the council’s audit committee today which was considering a report on strategic risks faced by the council.

He said that while the council was looking at the impact Brexit could have in terms of the loss of funding from Europe and whether Cornwall will receive money from the proposed shared prosperity fund there was also a need to look at specific areas.

The Truro councillor said: “My specific concern about Brexit is the Plymouth-Roscoff ferry. That is in terms of movement of goods and agriculture in Cornwall.

“It isn’t something that seems to appear on any of the documents regarding Brexit and Cornwall.

“Brittany Ferries has said there could be a significant reduction in GDP as a result of disruption which could be caused by Brexit.

“This has been raised several times in the run up to all this. I think we are not at a point where we understand what the risks could and we need to get together with Brittany Ferries and Plymouth City Council about this.”

Brittany Ferries warned last week that it had been warned that every vessel carrying  refrigerated goods, food and other natural products may face inspections upon arrival in France after Britain leaves the EU, with around a third of the 210,000 freight units carried by Brittany Ferries every year affected.

The firm said this would need infrastructure such as huge warehouses to carry out the task and those do not exist in Roscoff and other French ports and it is unlikely to be in place by March next year.

Brittany Ferries also said there was a risk that some ports could be excluded from post-Brexit preparations entirely, which would mean there would be fewer entry points into France for hauliers.

The company’s CEO Christophe Mathieu said: “The British may take a pragmatic approach and wave lorries through upon arrival into the UK, but cross-Channel trade works both ways. In a worst case scenario, British hauliers carrying refrigerated goods could face the prospect of far longer journeys – perhaps hundreds of additional miles – to find a French port equipped to process their consignment. When they finally get there they could encounter further delays waiting for checks to take place.

“The reality of this would be a loss of connectivity and a significant threat to jobs and long term investment in regions like the south west of England.”