3 August 2022

KCC COUNCILLOR’S REPORT        

There are two updates this month. Firstly, a piece on an excellent local campaign which has the potential to open up a safe cycling route between Faversham and Whitstable, and then an update on the situation with KCC's bus subsidy cuts.

SOLAR CYCLEWAY

The Solar Cycleway is the brainchild of a keen cyclist and local campaigner from Graveney. He came up with a great idea to try and get something positive out of the hugely unpopular solar farm scheme in Graveney by campaigning for the developers to include a cycle path across the site, leading from the creekside path in Faversham across to The Sportsman at Seasalter.

This would make cycling from Faversham to Whitstable significantly safer, as cyclists would no longer have to navigate the fast, winding sections of Seasalter Road from Graveney up to the coast.

I have been working with the Solar Cycleway team over the past year to see what is possible in terms of the laws relating to public rights of way, and our hard work is beginning to pay off. Sustrans, the national cycling charity are now on board with the scheme and keen to assist us, and the scheme has the support of KCC, Swale Borough Council, Faversham Town Council, and the two MPs whose constituencies the path would be in (Helen Whately and Rosie Duffield).

Despite the strong support from every local authority, the developers have so far not budged and not met with us to discuss the idea of allowing a cycle path, but we now have a chance to employ people power to get the Solar Cycleway on the agenda. Although the decision on building the site was taken by the government, the developers now have to get some final details agreed with Swale Borough Council before they can proceed with construction. One of these details is a traffic management plan, which makes no mention of the danger their construction traffic will present to pedestrians and cyclists on the Seasalter Road.

Their proposals are currently on the Swale Planning Portal and we are hoping that enough responses about the need for walkers and cyclists to be considered in the plans will put the topic firmly on the agenda.  If you would like to respond in support of this project, please visit - www.solarcycleway.com for more information.

BUS SUBSIDY CUTS

Despite councillors from all parties presenting strong arguments against the council's proposal to cut £2.2m from its bus subsidy budget, the administration at KCC have moved forward with this decision. This will have a huge impact on our area, leaving many villages without access to regular public transport.

I am in talks with officers at KCC and other opposition members to see if it's possible to have the decision looked at by the Scrutiny Committee.  If we are able to do so, a Scrutiny meeting will take place in early August. I will report the outcome of the meeting in my next piece, and also provide updates via my Facebook page - www.facebook.com/RichLehmannSwaleEast. 

Assuming the cuts go ahead (which now seems likely), the only public transport option remaining for some villages will be the Kent Karrier service. This costs £3.50 per return journey (regardless of whether you have a bus pass or not) and requires booking in advance. I will write more about the Kent Karrier in the next piece, or if you would like to find out more, search online for 'Kent Karrier Swale'.

 

Rich Lehmann

rich.lehmann@kent.gov.uk 

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