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Cycles part of gyratory plan


PLANNERS are hoping they can retain a dedicated cycle route through the middle of Maidstone as part of a major road improve- ment scheme. A £5.7m Government-funded scheme to improve traffic flows through the town centre is due to start in the next financial year, which begins in April. Coincidentally, the recent grant-


ing of planning permission to re- develop the Powerhub on St Peter Street includes a condition that the northern carriageway is widened. But that would mean reducing


the width of the footpath on the northern bridge of the A229 to 2.5m – and the loss of the segre- gated cycle route on that stretch. KCC is now trying to retain the


cycle route as part of the new road scheme. KCC’s head of transporta- tion Tim Read said: “KCC ac- knowledges that there are limited opportunities for cyclists to cross the river in the town, and the re- duced width has raised some con- cern that the proposal would be


contrary to the overall Maidstone Council aim of encouraging sus- tainable transport.” The proposal for improving the gyratory scheme would see the building of two new lanes, with junctions controlled by traffic lights, to take traffic directly from Broadway to Fairmeadow and the A229 northbound, without cross- ing either of the existing two bridges. Planners say not only will this re-


duce journey distances, travel times and air pollution but it will increase capacity of the overall junction by about 10-20% in each of the peak hours, reducing delays for about a quarter of drivers. Commissioning of the detailed design of the scheme is due to start shortly and KCC proposes to carry out further capacity calculations, taking into account the proposed St Peter Street supermarket, and see if the extra capacity being pro- vided by the new schemewould be sufficient to allow the retention of the cycleway.


downsmail.co.uk Cycling for air ambulance


CYCLISTS are being urged to get on their bikes to help the life-saving Kent Air Ambulance, based in Marden. The charity is appealing


for cyclists to sign up for this year’s Double 100 Cycle Challenge to help save lives at night. The 100-mile or 100km


bike ride on Sunday, September 28 will mark the first anniversary of the launch of the night service. Last year’s annual event


raised more than £12,000 and organisers are aiming to double that figure this year with two starting points at Marden and Redhill. Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance has to raise an extra £1million a


Ian Smith, from sponsor FidelityWorld- wide Investment with Vicki Haxton and Julie Clare of Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance


year to fund the cost of a 24-hour service, a total of £6million. To register go to www.kssairambulance.co.uk/involved/double100. For


more information call Julie Clare on 01622 833833 or email juliec@kssairambulance.org.uk


Reduced homes plan submied COUNTRY House Developments has applied to replace a detached home in Sutton Valence with 10 homes. The Oaks, an Edwardian family home in a 4.13 acre plot in Maidstone


Road, close to theWarmlake Road junction, would be demolished. The land owner promoted the land in Maidstone Council’s call for sites as a mixed use development for 50 homes and 10,000sqm of commercial floor space but the council felt itwould be “a significant intensification of de- velopment and activity in a countryside location”.However, it felt that a moderate scale of developmentwould “not have any major impact”.


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