by political editor Paul Francis

pfrancis@thekmgroup.co.uk

An alternative site for a highways depot has been found near Maidstone - but Kent County Council isn't saying where it is.
County road chiefs have been searching for a site for a “super depot” for
more than a year after being forced to abandon earlier plans to build it on a site off the A20 on London Road at Wrotham.
The Wrotham proposal hit the buffers after KCC decided not to contest a Judicial Review brought by opponents of the scheme.
Now county councillors have been told there is an alternative but its location will not be disclosed until a planning application is submitted. That is expected early next year.
County councillors were told a deal to buy the land needed had been agreed but it was dependent on the authority securing planning permission.
KCC director of transport Caroline Bruce told a meeting of KCC’s highways overview committee: “The West Kent depot is proceeding. We have put in an offer for a piece of land to the west of Maidstone. The offer is subject to us getting planning permission. We expect a planning application to come to committee in early 2010.”
But she declined to identify precisely where the location is, saying only that it was off the M20 between Maidstone and West Malling.
The county council has been dogged by a series of setbacks in its search for a depot, which it needs as a base for salting and maintenance lorries, as well as offices and car parking.
A wide-reaching re-organisation began when KCC took back control of road maintenance from district councils in 2006.
Since then, it has opened a new depot at Ashford but has been unable to complete the shake-up because of the difficulties caused by trying to build its west Kent depot at Wrotham.
It is understood the site it now has its eyes on was previously used for commercial and industrial purposes and would not require permission for a change in use.