Kent Highways has tweaked a controversial one-way system in a town centre, but have they done enough to stave off criticism?

The Hart Street one-way system was introduced in Maidstone in March in an attempt to mitigate the queues of traffic that occasionally built up in Barker Road of traffic waiting to exit onto The Broadway.

It was assumed the delays were caused by traffic visiting the drive-thru McDonald’s and also the Marino’s fish and chip shop in Hart Street.

Many residents – and Ali El-Hajj, the owner of the McDonald's store – disputed this from the start, saying that the problem was simply that the green phase at the traffic lights with The Broadway was too short to allow more than four or five cars out at a time.

Under the new scheme, traffic wishing to visit McDonald's is barred from making the first right-hand turn into Hart Street and instead has to travel down Barker Road to a mini-roundabout and enter Hart Street from the other end.

The scheme was not an immediate success and there was even talk in May of scrapping it altogether, especially as some drivers were ignoring the no-right turn and carrying on as before.

But then it was discovered that there was indeed a problem with the sensors on the traffic lights. When queuing traffic on Barker Road held back to leave the Hart Street junction clear - as they should do – the sensors were registering only a short queue of vehicles and therefore reducing the green light phase.

Now KCC has tweaked the scheme. It has “optimised” the traffic lights by amending the signal timings and stopping the sensors on Barker Road from making the green phase leaving Lockmeadow end early. This has allowed more traffic to leave Barker Road on each green phase.

The council has also installed more substantial concrete barriers, rather than plastic ones, at the Hart Street and Barker Road junction. This has helped ensure the barriers are not moved and has improved compliance with the No Entry restriction. Finally, it has put up additional advisory signage to tell drivers how to reach businesses in Hart Street using the new mini roundabout near B&Q.

KCC said: “We are keen to hear the public’s views about the experimental one-way system.”

Fant ward councillor Margaret Rose (Lab) said: “It’s a difficult one. You can’t please all the people all the time.

“Some people are happy with the way it is now; others still think their ideas are better.

“The truth is, unfortunately, there is congestion throughout Maidstone, as we all know.”

Residents can respond to the public consultation here.

Comments must be submitted by November 24.