Date: 13th November 2009

Bus Station Plans to be Rushed Through?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cllr Vince Maple, Labour member for Chatham Central ward, again raised concerns about the new bus station design for the town centre, following up on his question at the previous Council meeting.
The plans, which had to be withdrawn from August’s planning meeting following cross-party concerns, had been resubmitted to the Regeneration Scrutiny committee last month.
Labour members fear that despite the bus station lacking adequate shelter, amongst other things, the plans may be rushed through so that the Council does not lose the £5 million funding from Government.
Cllr Maple said,
“The Council received the money for the bus station, and started the designs, in Summer 2006.  We’re now over three years further down the line with nothing agreed, and many members, especially those who represent the Chatham wards, are still very unhappy with the current design.”
“Ultimately, the Tory council has responsibility to ensure projects of this nature run to schedule and have the support of the local community.  Throughout this vital element of the regeneration programme, we have seen slippage and delay, proposals drafted and scrapped, and it has been badly handled from start to finish.”
Ward Councillor Bill Esterson added,
“Residents and shoppers in Chatham are still very concerned by the latest rushed plans for the bus station. Residents value the trees in Chatham and these plans still mean the loss of 18 mature trees. And the bus station is still a fair walk for elderly and disabled people with heavy shopping bags and there is still no indication of where taxis are supposed to go.  No wonder that people who actually live and shop in Chatham are fed up with the Tories. Yet again the views of local people are being ignored and I fear that the bus station will be yet another fiasco in the stop-go regeneration of Chatham – more stop than go if you ask me.”

ENDS

For further comment please contact Cllr Vince Maple on Mobile: 07981 661451, or Cllr Bill Esterson on 07976 628730.  Alternatively contact the Group office on 01634 332393.