THE location of a new £5m bus station for Medway has been approved.

The agreed site for the major public transportation hub – option four of seven sites presented to Medway Coucil’s cabinet – centres on Sir John Hawkins Way and Globe lane in Chatham, and would require the demolition of the Sir John Hawkins flyover.

Precise boundaries of the site have yet to be agreed, but the decision ends months of debate and extensive public consultation over the most suitable location for the new bus station, which is a key element of the area’s £1billion regeneration programme.

Leader of Medway Council Cllr Rodney Chambers said: “Getting this right is vitally important for Chatham’s future.

“It’s now clear that this is the most logical location, which makes demolition of the Sir John Hawkins flyover unavoidable.”

He added: “This is a complex project and the works will inevitably cause disruption. But that is a price worth paying. The new bus station is a key element of the vastly improved public transport system that Medway will need as the regeneration programme takes shape.”

The new station will replace the existing facilities now at The Pentagon shopping centre, and will clear the way the centre’s own £80m expansion.

The Sir John Hawkins flyover was closed to general traffic when Chatham’s two-way road system was launched in September 2006.

The council found its short-term re-opening three months ago brought little or no overall benefit to traffic flow.

Demolition of the flyover and the building of the bus station will be followed by phase-two of the Chatham two-way works, including road widening, a series of junction improvements and three major new car parks.