Agenda item

The Major Projects Team Project Manager introduced the report and outlined the scheme updates as contained within the report:

·  Work continued on the A249 Bearsted Road Major Infrastructure Project and that the crematorium drainage works should be completed by Christmas. A contractor for the Wider Programme was being finalised, with a focus on improvement works on minor roads until post-Christmas 2023. The Council had allocated CIL funding to improve M20 Junction 7, with KCC appointing a contractor for the programme, with construction on that section of the programme expected following the completion of work on Bearsted Road and the M2 Junction 5 to improve road space;

·  The procurement exercise for the A20 Coldharbour Round/A20 London Road – Hall Road scheme was concluding, with the contract award expected in early November and the project expected to commence in January 2024.

·  The A229 Loose Road junction with Sheals Crescent was paused while the impact of the works at Armstrong Road were assessed.

·  The Cripple Street/Boughton Lane had been cancelled due to objections concerning the loss of green space in front of nearby shops. Alternative options had been explored but no option was able to improve the capacity of the junction.

·  Work on the A20 Ashford Road junction with Willington Street would be programmed to commence after the completion of the A249 Bearsted Road project to minimise road space of the network.

·  The proposed works on the A26 Tonbridge Road with Fountain Lane were still being reviewed with a consultant and was nearing completion. A meeting would be arranged with local Councillors to discuss scheme updates.

·  Work on the A274 Sutton Road junction with Willington Street was not being progressed to allow schemes with Local Growth Fund (LGF) monies to take priority first.

·  The A229 Loose Road junction with the A274 Sutton Road (Wheatsheaf junction) had been split into two phases, the first involving the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) closure of Cranborne Avenue, and then implementation of the final scheme. Traffic surveys were conducted before and after the closure of Cranborne Avenue and found queues to the junction were reduced significantly. The junctions at Cranborne Avenue and Plains Avenue were compared for traffic safety concerns and found that in the last five years there had been no crashes at Plains Avenue and three at Cranborne Avenue, including a fatality. The consultation on the scheme received 96 responses, of which 73 were objections and 23 in support.

The information was presented to the KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, and a decision was made to permanently close Cranborne Avenue. The Major Projects Team Project Manager apologised that the decision was made before the Board’s meeting, to avoid the expiration of the ETRO and re-opening the road which could confuse drivers. 

The KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation was invited to address the Board, and emphasised that the decision was made following his consideration of the relevant traffic data and resident concerns, with the Local Ward Member having been consulted, and was taken before the ETRO expired to avoid the risk of highway safety if the road was re-opened and then re-closed permanently. The Cabinet Member apologised for the decision’s timing, in that residents were unable to raise their concerns at the Board.

The Board expressed disappointment in the timing of the decision to close Cranborne Avenue, with it felt that residents and the Board should have had the opportunity to give their views ahead of the closure.

Concern was expressed on the lack of progress made on the Maidstone Integrated Transport Package (MITP), including projects on Willington Street, Sutton Road and Foundation Lane and that inflation was impacting project costs, and the financial resources available to support the projects. Several Members further expressed concern that more action could be taken at Armstrong Road to improve pedestrian safety.

In response to further questions, the Major Projects Team Project Manager stated that progress had been limited on some projects due to the complexity involved and that work at Armstrong Road was subject to a safety audit which would consider whether street furniture such as bollards or railings would be appropriate. It was further stated that the Kent Highways team would explore installation of yellow box markings at Parkway and that a right turning had been considered but that this could be detrimental to improvements already made.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Note: Councillors Passmore and Sams left at 7.59 p.m. following the item’s conclusion.