By Alan McGuinness

Ambitious plans to transform the River Medway into an ‘aqua motorway’ have moved a step closer to reality.

Medway Council's leader, Rodney Chambers, said he was backing 'further investigation' into plans to use the river as a transport hub.

The brainchild of Simon Green, head of the Kent and Medway branch of charity Groundwork, the river would slash congestion in the area, and transport people between the Medway towns.

Audio: hear Medway Council leader Rodney Chambers tell the project's history

Cllr Chambers, who is also the chairman of the Medway Renaissance Partnership, said a feasibility study would be worthwhile.

A good starting point would involve investigating the viability of setting up a water taxi service between Chatham town centre and the Medway City Estate.

“It is worth carrying out a further feasibility study that would cover all aspects such as the landing points…the difference between low tide and high tide and also an examination of what the likely charging costs would be,” he said.

Mr Green says that at one time the idea was ‘a bit of a joke’, but now things had changed.

He was optimistic of seeing his plan put into practice. He said: “I think it’s an idea whose time is maybe approaching. It won’t happen next week, but it might happen in the next two or three years.”