Kent Sustainable Interventions Programme

The Kent Sustainable Interventions Programme scheme involves the delivery of a number of small schemes which complement larger schemes, particularly those funded through the Local Growth Fund (LGF). The sustainable transport schemes funded under this element of the LGF programme are designed to maximise the benefits offered by the larger schemes for example by:

• ‘Locking in’ the de-congestion benefits of highway schemes such as junction improvements by encouraging users to switch to walking, cycling and public transport through the provision of complementary facilities such as crossings, footway improvements, bus priorities and cycle lanes;
• Increasing the usage of public transport schemes (including rail) by providing improved facilities to access the service, for example, provision of cycle stands at a railway station or footpath improvements to a bus stop from a housing estate;
• Improving sustainable access within and into developments (e.g. housing, employment, education, healthcare) to encourage the use of walking, cycling and public transport. This will in turn improve social cohesion, provide healthy exercise and community safety as well as reducing car journeys;
• Providing non-car access to facilities to enable those without cars to participate in the activities there; and
• Complementing the above with Smarter Choices initiatives such as publicity and travel plans which encourage the use of sustainable modes of travel.

Schemes have been brought forward for funding approval on an annual basis since 2015/16, with the final schemes receiving funding approval in April 2019, as detailed:

2015/16 schemes

• Howard Avenue, Sittingbourne – provision of a new walking/cycle link between Howard Avenue and Laburnum Place;
• South Street, Deal bus hub improvements – improvements to bus waiting facilities;
• Home Gardens, Dartford – provision of a widened footway on Home Gardens to Darenth Valley Path and Dartford Station;
• Sittingbourne town centre – improvements to the signing of cycle routes in Sittingbourne town centre and the surrounding links;
• Access improvements to Aylesford Station – improvements to pedestrian links to Aylesford Railway Station through the construction of a missing section of footway on Station Road, Ditton;
• The Meads, Grove Park to London Road – cycle improvements between Grove Park and London Road.

2016/17 schemes

• Cinque Ports Cycle Route Phase 1 – a cycle link from Folkestone seafront to Lydd;
• Tonbridge Angels to Tonbridge Station cycle improvements – provision of on and off-road cycle facilities including a toucan crossing on London Road, Tonbridge;
• Schools cluster to Folkestone Harbour – provision of cycle links in the town centre which will link schools and address areas where cycling is currently considered dangerous.

2017/18 schemes

• Morants Court roundabout, Sevenoaks – safety improvements for vulnerable road users such as pedal cyclists;
• Kent Spa and Castle Ride – works on a 2 mile section of a proposed 20 mile circular leisure cycle route;
• Cinque Ports Cycle Route Phases 2, 3 and 4 – a cycle link from Folkestone seafront to Lydd;
• Morehall to Folkestone Central Station – provision of minor local cycleway improvements on routes leading to the station;
• Highfield Lane, Ashford – works to prevent motorised traffic using Highfield Lane whilst also providing facilities for pedestrian, cycle and equestrian use.

2018/19 schemes

• A228 Holborough – improving the link between the Peters Village development and Snodland through introduction of a reduced speed limit and installation of a puffin crossing;
• Sloe Lane, Thanet – widening and resurfacing of an existing footpath to provide a new shared footpath/cycle path;
• A2070 Barrey Road, Ashford – junction improvements to aid traffic flow and provision of a new shared footway/cycleway on Barrey Road.

2019/20 and 2020/21 schemes

• Maidstone East Station redevelopment expansion scheme – provision of improvements to sustainable travel infrastructure creating increased opportunities for walking, cycling and the use of public transport for onward journeys through Maidstone and wider Kent;
• Maidstone East/Week Street, Maidstone – provision of a raised table which would slow vehicle speeds and improve pedestrian connections between Week Street, Maidstone East station and County Hall.

Project update

An update on the project was presented to Accountability Board on 15th June 2018 and it was noted that the following three schemes would not be taken forward as part of the project:

• Access improvements to Aylesford Station – Kent County Council were unable to negotiate the land requirements needed to deliver the scheme.  As a result the scheme was removed from the LGF programme, however, Kent County Council may progress the scheme at a later date through alternative means;
• The Meads, Grove Park to London Road – the proposed works were delivered by a developer, rather than being funded through the LGF, meaning that the scheme benefits have still been realised;
• Schools cluster to Folkestone Harbour – the proposed works were incorporated into the Morehall to Folkestone Central Station which was brought forward for funding approval as part of the 2017/18 package of schemes, resulting in a delay in realising the benefits offered by the scheme.

The £270,000 LGF funding allocated to these schemes was reallocated to other schemes within the project. A further update on the project was presented to Accountability Board on 12th April 2019 and it was agreed that the following three schemes would not be taken forward as part of the project:

• Highfield Lane, Ashford – the proposed works were delivered by a developer, rather than being funded through the LGF, meaning that the scheme benefits have still been realised;
• Sloe Lane, Thanet – as a result of significant land take requirements and engineering difficulties it has not been possible to progress the scheme sufficiently to fit in with LGF timescales;
• A2070 Barrey Road, Ashford – the proposed works were provided by Highways England, rather than being funded through the LGF, meaning that the scheme benefits have still been realised.

The £450,000 LGF funding allocated to these schemes was reallocated to other schemes within the project.

£579m of investment to East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock

In total the SELEP Growth Deal with Government has brought £579m of investment to East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock. Over the lifetime of the Growth Deal (2015-2021) we aim to deliver 78,000 jobs and 29,000 homes across the SELEP area, with the Deal set to attract a further £960m of investment into the South East over the six year period.

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