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Maidstone’s Integrated Transport Strategy is not fit for purpose, so says Kent County Council, the highways authority, casting doubt over the future of the borough council's long-awaited Local Plan.
The transport strategy sets out the way the borough council believes it can mitigate the adverse effect of building another 18,560 homes in the borough, but the county said it fell far short of that aim.
Tim Read, the county’s head of transportation, said: “There is no underlying evidence, no model testing to substantiate the borough’s claims.”
Cllr Matthew Balfour, the cabinet member for transport, said: “Half the strategy is about walking and cycling. Well, wishing there were an improved bus service does not mean it is going to happen and KCC does not have the budget to fund any more buses.”
Cllr Balfour declared negotiating with the borough had been “a labour of Hercules.”
He said: “There have been difficulties in communication; difficulties in understanding; difficulties in trust; difficulties in people using other people’s logos without approval, difficulties in joint highways boards and joint consultants reaching conclusions that have then just been ignored (by the borough).”
Mr Read said the transport strategy did not represent the position of the highways authority. He said: “We must register an objection to the Local Plan because of the severe impact (of building 18,560 homes) will have on the highways network.”
He said that without mitigation, modelling had shown the traffic congestion would increase by 40%.
Cllr Ian Chittenden (Lib Dem) told the county council that it had left it too late in the day to complain. He said: “KCC has not supported the borough with any objection to planning applications on highways grounds throughout this time.
“We have only just been given the modelling. If we had had this two years ago, the borough’s position might have been different.”
But Barbara Cooper, the county’s corporate director of transport, said: “The modelling was jointly secured with the borough.”
But she agreed with Cllr Chittenden: “It will be Armageddon if you don’t have a Local Plan.”
A spokesman for Maidstone Borough Council said: “We are currently seeking views on whether the Local Plan is sound and meets the tests set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.
“The comments we receive from KCC's Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee – together with all other comments from residents or organisations - will be considered and any issues identified.
“These will be discussed at our Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee which meets on Monday, April 18.
“The comments will then be passed to the Planning Inspectorate who will take them into account when they examine the plan.”
The borough council is currently running two consultations.
Tomorrow, Friday, is the last day for residents to submit responses to Maidstone council’s regulation 19 consultation on the Local Plan. Visit www.maidstone.gov.uk and look for the consultations page. Responses are required by 5pm.
Tomorrow is also the last day for responses to a consultation on the Integrated Transport Strategy.
