A link route through Gravesend town centre has been given the go-ahead by the county council – adding to the line-up of ichanges coming to the town.

The plans for Gravesend’s transport quarter – which reveal a realigned, two-way Rathmore Road linking Wrotham Road and Darnley Road, were considered by Kent County Council’s planning applications committee.

The application was approved in its entirety by the committee. This included major changes to the layout of the town centre which include the widening of Rathmore Road, the addition of a taxi rank outside the railway station and further provision for disabled parking.

Under the plans, Barrack Row will become a transport interchange that integrates the railway station with the town centre, bus and taxi services, and improves pedestrian walkways.

Work is expected to begin on the transport quarter in the spring or summer of next year, according to Gravesham council leader John Burden, who said KCC’s approval of the plans was excellent news for the town.

The development is the latest proposed improvement to the town, which includes the clock tower refurbishment, redevelopment of the market and construction of the new Heritage Quarter, which is subject to a High Court judicial review today this week.

However, concerns have been raised by some that councillors have rushed through the transport quarter plans without properly assessing the town’s transport priorities.

In a letter sent to the Messenger, Roger Steer of Darnley Road, Gravesend, said: “At a time when KCC are slashing social care budgets and the country has a deficit requiring the NHS to be starved of resources, it seems that it is not possible to risk delaying decisions until we know what will be the real transport needs in Gravesend in future.”

Case officer Paul Hopkins, who wrote the council report on the application, said: “I consider in the long term proposals would provide an acceptable environment for existing residents and businesses and result in overall improvements to the public.”

“Moreover the proposals would improve the pedestrian environment and connectivity between the railway station and the town centre and would be an important step forward for the wider aspirations envisaged by the Transport Quarter proposals for Gravesend, including the creation of a public transport interchange.”

Mr Hopkins added he believed benefits outweigh the negative impacts – which include the loss of a residence and the effects on the character and appearance of the area.

The 225-space Rathmore Road car park will close, with developers saying it has been assumed displaced parking would be accommodated in the Lord Street/Parrock Street area.
A house on the corner of Rathmore Road, number 13, will be demolished, along with an empty restaurant.

Clive Road will remain open to traffic wanting to get to the station car park and the Thamesgate centre car park. Through traffic coming along Stone Street will no longer turn onto Clive Road but onto Railway Place, or turn off earlier into Rathmore Road. Traffic lights will be placed in Clive Road and Stone Street to control traffic movement through the Clive Road/Stone Street/Railway Place junction.