A breakthrough finally appears to have been reached over proposals for a relief road in Maidstone.

Helen Whately and Helen Grant claim "common ground" was found as they discussed preparing the case for the much-discussed bypass between Leeds and Langley in a meeting with the leaders of Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council.

The local authorities have historically been at loggerheads over how best to solve the County Town's growing transport problems.

KCC is leading work on a feasibility study for the proposed relief road, including a costs and benefits analysis and assessment of alternatives and consultants have been commissioned to undertake extensive studies, which will involve traffic and environmental surveys and assessment of potential routes.

MBC will also be involved in the feasibility study, providing a planning perspective at key points in the work, while a new project board composed of political representatives and officers from both KCC and MBC will be established.

The project board will review progress, guide further work and make recommendations to their elected members.

The feasibility study is due to conclude in March 2019, after which there will be a public consultation on its findings.

There was also discussion of how better public transport could help alleviate congestion in and around Maidstone.

Mrs Whately, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent said: "Maidstone’s traffic is blighting the lives of people who live and work here. It’s got to the point where the traffic is putting people off living here or locating businesses in the town.

"Kent’s County Town needs proper investment in its transport infrastructure, not only roads but also buses, cycling and walking routes. I am delighted that we brought KCC and MBC together, overcoming the historic impasse on the relief road. Now everyone can focus on fixing Maidstone’s traffic problem.”

Maidstone and the Weald MP Mrs Grant added: "I was pleased to host this meeting alongside my neighbouring MP Helen Whately, in my office in Maidstone – and glad we could come to some common ground on this very important topic.

"The most frequent concern raised in my postbag is the traffic situation locally, this is something that affects nearly everybody regardless of where they live in our County Town. It is crucially important that our two local authorities are working together on this for the benefit of the people of Maidstone. I will continue to work with both MBC and KCC to ensure this happens."

KCC leader Paul Carter said the local authority would provide regular updates as the feasibility work takes place, while MBC leader Fran Wilson said she hoped the meeting had ironed out misunderstandings over the respective roles of the two council.

She added: "Hopefully these issues have now been resolved and we can move forward in a true and equal partnership for the benefit of all the people of this borough."