There were harsh words for KCC's pop-up cycle lane in King Street, Maidstone, when the issue was discussed at a joint meeting of county and borough councillors for the area.

Cllr Ian Chittenden (Lib Dem) bluntly told the county's senior project manager Russell Boorman: "All of us will be glad to see the back of it."

The cycle lane and the extension of the pedestrian area in Earl Street were both schemes implemented in haste to make use of the Government's Active Travel Fund money made available last year to counter Covid.

Mr Boorman admitted: "I accept that the schemes were put in in a swift nature and were not consulted or engaged upon to the normal extent."

The cycle-lane was now to be removed with all kerbing and the new traffic signals to go within a month.

The pedestrian zone would stay for the time being, but be adapted to take account of criticisms.

The controversial "parklets" in Earl Street, build-outs into the carriageway, would remain until spring when Mr Boorman hoped the town's economy would be released from lockdown and restaurants and other businesses might be able to use the extra seating areas they provided.

Cllr Clive English (Lib Dem) asked: "What's the point of leaving them there for several months when none of the food businesses are able to open?"

Cllr Valerie Springett was particularly cross about the extra traffic lights that it had been necessary to instal because the cycle lane had narrowed the carriageway in King Street to one car width at one point. She said: "It caused chaos. It was utterly ridiculous."

Mr Boorman said there was an ambition to re-instate a cycle lane in King Street in the long term, but promised any such scheme would be thoroughly consulted upon in advance.

Cllr Dan Daley (Lib Dem) doubted that such a lane was necessary. He said he had asked for evidence of use of the road by cyclists but none had been forth-coming.
He said: "You very, very rarely see any bicycles in the High Street - unless it's 14-year-olds doing wheelies between the traffic and enjoying it.

"I know there is a desire to get people to ride bicycles, but trying to get people to take a modal shift and get on bikes is just not going to happen. It's just pie in the sky."

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