A challenge has been mounted to a controversial red-route traffic management scheme.

Last week Medway Council’s Cabinet gave the £805,000 plan the go-ahead despite the majority of consultation respondents not wanting it.

Today opposition councillors have revealed they’ve applied for the decision to be “called in” by a scrutiny committee in terms of how it affects Rainham.

And they say if their party wins the next election in 2027, they will scrap the “money-making scheme” altogether.

Conservatives from the town have asked the cross-party regeneration, culture and environment overview and scrutiny committee to get involved.

They want its members to evaluate the introduction of a red route on the A2 Rainham High Street which will see motorists fined for stopping.

The Tories cite the 61% of respondents to the consultation who said they did not agree with the introduction of this specific route as the reason for the move.

They also said local businesses would be negatively affected by the proposals, and if the plans go ahead it will be a Conservative manifesto promise at the next council election to repeal them.

If it considers the matter, the committee can make recommendations - sending it back to the Cabinet and asking them to think again.

Tory group leader, Cllr Adrian Gulvin, said: “What we are really hoping is that they will see sense and not implement the route in Rainham.

“We think it’s not very good for local businesses, who are having a tough time as it is.

“The consultation for the A2 Rainham High Street was the most responded to of the five routes, and overwhelmingly residents said no. They cannot ignore that.”

He added the cost of the policy for aspects including smart cameras, signage, and road painting, did not make sense when it was so unpopular with residents.

The call-in paperwork was submitted this morning, which means this issue will be brought to the next committee meeting on October 10, if not at an earlier special meeting.

Cllr Gulvin said he had asked for local businesses to be given the opportunity to outline the difficulties the routes would cause for them at the committee, but it had not yet been confirmed this would be possible.

The issue will be discussed and considered and could be sent back to cabinet with recommendations for alterations to the plans.

However, even if this was the case, the cabinet could still reject these recommendations and implement the proposals as already agreed.

The other affected areas include sections of Corporation Street, Rochester; Star Hill, Rochester; Best Street, Chatham; The Brook, Chatham.