Cllr Vince Maple at the new bus station site prior to its completion
Medway Labour has expressed growing concern on behalf of bus users across the towns over the problematic new Chatham Waterfront Bus Station, which opened last week.
The Chatham ‘dynamic’ bus station project has been utterly mismanaged by the Medway Conservatives and its opening on Monday was mired in controversy after bus users, press and residents noted a number of problems with the new bus station, such as a lack of public crossings, toilets and bins.
The Labour group are once again appalled at the recurring mismanagement and incompetence displayed by the incumbent Tory administration in Medway.
Even before this recent setback, the project has been blighted by delays, and has led to Chatham town centre consistently being blocked and obstructed, causing a real nuisance to many residents and business owners.
The ‘dynamic’ bus facility has cost the taxpayer in Medway £7.3m and was £2.3m over-budget and 5 months late. It has cost every man, woman and child in Medway £30 per person and an average family of four, who may not even use the facility, £120.
Cllr Vince Maple, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group said,
“I have been receiving a number of complaints from local bus users, who are concerned about a number of flaws at the new bus station.”
“The so-called ‘Dynamic Bus Facility’ is just one – albeit very expensive – fiasco in a growing list of ineptitudes from the Tories. This bungled, over-budget bus station project is another clear example. The only thing which is “Dynamic” is the Tory portfolio of failure”
