Self-driving cars could arrive on the streets of Tunbridge Wells as the local authority considers investing £30 million in the emerging technology.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) is discussing the potential use of driverless vehicles to address congestion in town.

Traditional park and ride systems have previously been rejected on the grounds of cost, feasibility and impact on main roads.

But the authority is beginning to consider the construction of specialist pathways for 25 TW Pods.

The scheme has been set out in a report produced by councillor David Scott, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Conservative member for St John’s Ward.

He put it before the council's Joint Transportation Board last month.

The battery-charged vehicles, which could carry up to six people, would be based on similar models used at Heathrow Airport and in parts of Milton Keynes and the Netherlands.

Councillor Scott said he hopes revealing his plans will encourage members of the public to consider how they could use such technology

He added: “When you walk along our streets what you see more than anything else are parked cars.

“If these pods became available in the town centre we could pedestrianise the central spine and allow people to transport up and down the road.

“I have been trying to push this forward for around four years. It is very early days, but were are trying to start thinking about ways of making this happen sooner rather than later.

“We have produced a number of different ideas, the routes could be changed significantly but it is a start."

Initial plans suggest the pods could operate 22 hours a day in three ‘travel zones’.

The council has designed initial, example routes.

Zone A’s track is 5.5 miles long and designed in a figure of eight running from the Crescent Road car-park to the Pembury park and ride near the Tesco Superstore in Woodsgate Corner.

Zone B pods would travel along pedestrian areas connecting Grosvenor Road and FivewWays at the top, along Mount Pleasant and the High Street to the Pantiles.

While most of this is currently open to traffic, much of the route may be pedestrianised.

Zone C would include a route to out-of-town areas such as Tunbridge Wells Hospital and North Farm Industrial Estate.

The scheme would effectively run as a park-and-ride system.

Some tracks would be constructed at ground level, with the remainder elevated.

The system would allow 25 pods to travel from the town centre to Pembury in eight minutes.

A round trip could take less than 20 minutes, allowing 75 round trips per hour, carrying up to 450 passengers each way.

Should demand increase additional pods could be purchased – financed by fares.

If approved, tracks could be completed and operational within 18 months.

Typical waiting times for a TW Pod would be less than 2 minutes – comparable waiting time in Heathrow averages at under 4 seconds.

The central point is envisioned to be inside the Crescent Road car-park.

Routes would be located in fields, woods or school grounds, away from the main road network. They would also serve several schools in the borough.

The council hopes pods would provide an additional attraction in the centre of Tunbridge Wells, in turn increasing the viability of restaurants, shops, theatres and other venues.

It’s hoped drivers will move away from owning their own car use a hire vehicle for long distance journeys.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is one of the first authorities in the country to consider such plans.

It’s estimated the total infrastructure cost would be £31 million.

Included in this would be Zone A pathways at £16 million, the system, commissioning, stations and charge points at £10 million, £2 million for the pods and £3 million contingency costs.

Costs would potentially be split between Kent County Council’s Highways Agency, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and the pod operators.

Operational costs are expected to be around £2 million per year.

Rough estimates of £2.50 to £3 per passenger from Pembury to Tunbridge Wells have been given.

Estimated fare income is suggested to be between £3 million to £5 million per year with an initial 25 pods.

The report, constructed by Cllr Scott, asks for decision makers to include the possibility of self-driven technology within the planning of all changes to roads.

He also hopes Kent County Council will give full consideration of new technology to solve transportation problems, particularly in Tunbridge Wells.

He added: “It’s not that far fetched its something that’s happening and could happen here pretty rapidly. I am saying here, this is the possibility, we have to be inventive enough to grab it and improve our lives.”

To read the full report click here.

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