Controversial plans to create a high-speed bus service linking Dover Priory railway station to a major housing development will face public scrutiny.

The proposals were first mooted in 2011. If it goes ahead, Fastrack buses will travel from the Folkestone Road station, stopping at Market Square, Dover Castle, the leisure centre, Tesco and then onto the village of Whitfield.

At least 5,750 new homes are to be built at Whitfield, which is nearly three miles from Dover's main railway station, as council bosses seek to improve infrastructure to serve the thousands of new residents expected to move in.

Kent County Council's (KCC) environment and transport committee will meet next Thursday to discuss the merits of the £16.1million scheme.

The service could be introduced from 2023 if approved at the planning stage next month.

Dover District Council's transport cabinet member, Cllr Nigel Collor (Con), who is also a member of the KCC committee, said the route would promote a "greener" way of travelling for residents, reducing the number of cars on the district's roads.

He said: "It will go to KCC's planning system and hopefully everything will go tickety-boo and we will look for a much slicker bus service from Whitfield."

'On paper I am sceptical about this idea and I am not convinced that this will get cars off the road. I would like to see more of the detail...'

More than 250 residents responded to an online survey about the Dover Fastrack project from July 10 to July 26. Around 55% of people said it would be "effective" while 41% said they were likely or very likely to use the service.

However, some have questioned if the £16m is a wise use of government cash and raised concerns about the impact of a Dover Brexit customs clearance site causing congestion on roads, which is due to be ready from July 2021.

Cllr Kevin Mills (Lab), who is the main opposition leader at Dover District Council, said he needed more "convincing" about the bus service, saying demand levels will likely have dropped because of the pandemic.

He added: "On paper I am sceptical about this idea and I am not convinced that this will get cars off the road. I would like to see more of the detail."

Whitfield Parish Council says it accepts the "need" for the project but has concerns while some Dover residents have worried about environmental impacts through more public transport emissions.

Although KCC highways bosses say that the buses would be "ultra clean" and in a council report published to the transport committee last night, they add: "Anything less, simply doesn't fit the Fastrack philosophy."

Negotiations continue to secure land that may be deemed necessary for construction.

A KCC report published yesterday (Thursday) stated: "Meetings were held with residents of Dover Road, south of Frith Farm through to Old Charlton Road.

"The residents were asked to consider selling land they own in front of their properties in order to widen the road, but none were willing to do so.

"This will not prevent delivery of the project; as a bus service already operates along Dover Road."

Detailed designs will be presented in early 2021, the KCC report has also said.

A final decision over the application will be made by KCC's planning committee on December 9 after the plans are scrutinised in seven days' time from 10am.

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