‘Let down’ over relief road report

The long-awaited LeedsLangley relief road will not help traffic in the wider Maidstone area, a report has suggested.

Kent County Council’s

Russell Boorman delivered a verbal update to Maidstone’s Joint Transportation Board last week regarding the project - estimated to cost between £70 and £80 million - and councillors weren’t too impressed.

Mr Boorman said although a relief road would reduce traffic for both villages, the existing route will still remain an attractive option for drivers. It was also noted several housing developments would be needed “to actually give a cost towards the scheme for delivery”.

However, the “fundamental problem”, according to the report, is “There is a very high cost but no obvious source of Government or private funding that would be required to construct and develop a relief road at this time.”

Mr Boorman added: “There are also likely to be changes on traffic demand as work and lifestyles change post Covid-19 that would need to be considered.”

Cllr David Burton, chairman of Maidstone’s Strategic Planning Committee is “disappointed” the report did not include “a detailed proposition to actually consider”.

He said: “I think we need to make it very clear to residents that Maidstone has done its best to consider all plan scenarios available, but because it has not been placed on the table as an option, we have not been able to consider it.

“I’m sure I’m expressing my disappointment along with tens of thousands of residents who are looking to us to actually consider this in a meaningful manner and I think, once again, politically, we have let them down.

Shame on us all.”

Cllr Gary Cooke, chairing the meeting, agreed with his colleague before the board formally noted Mr Boorman’s report.