Medway Council has moved a step closer to buying the Medway Tunnel.

The Council says the proposed purchase, officially given the nod last week, will safeguard the future of road transport in Medway by putting the funding of this major road link on a firmer footing.

But critics say the decision could create a massive financial black hole with the government unlikely to fund future maintenance bills

The final decision now rests with the Charity Commision.

If they give the go-ahead ownership will transfer to the council from Rochester Bridge Trust.

Cllr Phil Filmer (Con), highways portfolio holder, said:“This is good news for Medway motorists, and proof of our commitment to safe and easy travel in Medway,” “This move will give the funding and management of the tunnel by the council a much simpler and surer basis.

“In the long term, we hope it will lead to revenue financing of the tunnel by the Department for Transport and remove the historical anomaly affecting responsibility for its upkeep.”

As part of the deal with the Trust the Council will pay a nominal sum of £1 and receive a final £3.64 million towards future maintenance.

Oppostion councillors fear the Council could find itself with an enormous maintenance bill on the tunnel and no way to fund it.

It is the only road tunnel in Britain which is not maintained by the government, under an ancient law that made the bridgewardens’ responsible for all crossings of the river.

Cllr Paul Godwin (Lab) questioned an agreement signed in 2005 which allowed the bridgewardens to give the council whatever money they felt appropriate. This, he said, had caused a massive gap in funding whichwas eating away at Medway’s highway maintenance budget.

“The long term maintenance needs are so significant that this council will have to find significant sums of money to make up the shortfall,” he added.

“You are doing this on a wing and a prayer, hoping the government will take it over, but they have said it is not the government’s responsibility.”

He argued for the council to renegotiate the 2005 contract which, he claimed, was a poor deal for Medway’s residents.