Tory dithering as flyover comes down!

The £2.5m project which includes the changes to the road system in Strood, Chatham and Rochester continues to lead to commuter chaos and confusion in 2007/08, as well as severe problems for local business and traders. The tories promise at the last local election to re-open the flyer. This promise has now been broken as the deceit of this inept tory administration rose to new levels with the decision to once again demolish the fly-over.

'£2.5m was wasted by tories?'

Residents, tourists and business drivers travelling in Medway are being severly inconvenienced by the change to the old working one-way ring road. Communication has been so poor that 'traffic management officers' were drafted to reduce the likelihood of potential accidents caused by confused residents unaware of road changes. The scheme, conceived to reduce gridlock actually has had the opposite affect; with more tailbacks noted at Chatham Hill, Medway Street and New Road.

Road Scheme: History

All of these problems were predicted when the the new road plans for Chatham were proposed. Ward councillors and residents at the time were fearful of the effects before work bagan.

Local ward councillor, Bill Esterson, commented whilst collecting signatures in 2006 scheme that

"I think it was typical of the tories that they did not bother to consult residents in this area enough.  People are concerned- and rightly so- that the journeys that they take for work and school, which are already long and prone to delays, will get even worse."

"After looking at the plans and the information provided at the meeting, it was clear that these changes will bring gridlock. Chatham should be a world-class town, especially with the Olympics coming.  However, it is no use having these wonderful facilities like the theatre, and the shopping and restaurants, if people cannot access the town."

Trade Threatened

Traders are 'up in arms' as takings were significantly down in what had been a bumper year in other towncentres in north Kent. Traders claim passing trade had dropped by up to as much as 50% after the introduction of the scheme in mid-2006. Many Taxi drivers and residents wrote into complain about additional traffic lights. Most residents agreed the scheme had been badly mishandled,

£160,000 additional cost

The tories pledged in the local election to re-open the flyover. An election bribe which was predictably broken only 6 months later. The tory cabinet dithering over this project between April and December 2007 has cost £160,000 of tax payers money. A dithering and deceitful tory administration.

This project is totemic of the failure of the tory council. They failed to consult on the flyover, they failed to listen to residents. This has been a costly exercise and it wont be be forgotten.