A PARK and Ride service should be introduced in Blue Bell Hill to cut the number of cars travelling between Maidstone and Medway.

That is the view of Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem), Maidstone council's new cabinet member for the environment, who has described the A229 as the "heaviest commuter route" in and out of the County Town.

One of his first acts after taking the post, in May, was to instruct council officers to consider "a number of options" for a new bus ferry service to the north of Maidstone.

Cllr Harwood has also asked for an investigation into tailor-made Park and Ride services for rural areas, which could include building bus stops with dedicated mini car parks close to key villages.

He revealed the idea while giving a vision statement for his year in office to the council's overview and scrutiny committee.

Cllr Harwood said: "Our motorway junctions are at capacity now. That is an issue that needs to be looked at.

"The A229 is the heaviest commuter route in and out of Maidstone. The main flow is not to London, but to the Medway Towns."

He said more commuters should be encouraged to use the Medway Valley train line, which runs parallel to the A229 but which runs "practically empty", according to Cllr Harwood.