Purpose

Proposed decision
 
That the Cabinet
Member for Highways and Transport agree to:
 

1. 
APPROVE the progression and delivery of the
Aylesford Towpath improvements scheme
 

2. 
APPROVE that the cost of staff and consultancy time
for the delivery and supervision of the project, be recovered
against project funding

 

3. 
DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of
Growth, Environment and Transport to obtain and implement Statutory
Orders, approvals or consents required for the
scheme,including but not limited to
Compulsory Purchase Order, Side Roads Order and any Traffic
Regulation Orders required for the delivery and successful
operation of the scheme

 

4. 
 DELEGATE authority to
the Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with the Corporate
Director for Growth, Environment and Transport, to negotiate and
complete all required land acquisition including by means of
Compulsory Purchase Order as necessary to secure the delivery and
future maintenance of the scheme

 

5. 
DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of
Growth, Environment and Transport to procure and enter into
construction contracts as necessary for the delivery of the
scheme, subject to the approval of the
Commercial and Procurement Division.

 

6. 
DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director of
Growth, Environment and Transport to take
relevant actions, including but not limited to, entering into and
finalising the terms of relevant contracts or other legal
agreements, as necessary, to implement the
above decision
 
 
Reason for the decision and urgency
 

-    
The terms and conditions of the ATE grant require
the funding to be spent by March 2026. Due to long lead times for
materials, deferring the decision to June will put this funding at
risk as it will impact on the programme delivery
programme.
 
Background
 

-    
The Medway Tow Path is a walking, wheeling and
cycling route that has County level significance. The path is part
of a long-term vision to create a route from Rochester to Tonbridge
and beyond.

-    
The scheme proposes to widen the substandard width
shared footway/cycleway to provide a shared 3.0m width for
approximately 830m. There is a section that requires reinforcement
of the embankment due to a collapse of the existing retaining
wall.

-    
This route is a key missing link which will unlock
the wider network of active travel routes. A significant section of
the route has recently benefited from LEP funding to provide a new
asphalt surface which further increases the utility of this path.
The route is well used for both recreational and utility journeys,
with over 100 cyclists a day using other sections of the tow path.
A recently created section has over 20000 journeys per
month.

-    
At present, the Tow Path provides a direct, flat off
carriageway substandard shared pedestrian/cycle route between
Maidstone and key employment areas in Snodland and New Hythe. It also connects the
residential areas of these locations to the employment
opportunities within Maidstone itself. The path itself lies within
an Output Area which is ranked in the bottom 20% of the country in
the Index of Multiple Deprivation and provides connections to
equally deprived areas.

-    
Included within the improvements is wayfinder signing and low-level solar lighting/road
studs and a rest area with seating within the extents.

-    
The only alternative to this route is on a busy
distributor route with high levels of traffic including HGVs that
is note safe or attractive to walking, wheeling or
cycling.

-    
An Active Travel Fund Capital Grant of £1.2m
has been received following an annual funding bid round known as
ATF4 Extension (ATF4e).

-    
KCC’s Public Rights of Way Directorate have
set aside £300,000 from their annual maintenance budget which
is to be pooled with the ATF4e budget focused on the widening and
general maintenance of this section of the route..

-    
There are 2 Developer Contributions (S106) received
to assist with the improvements: £50,000 from Aylesford
Quarry development and £386,000 from the Aylesford Panattoni
development.
 
Options (other options considered but discarded)

 

-    
The only other option is to permanently close the
route which universally has not been supported due to the
importance of the route.
 
How the proposed decision supports the

Framing Kent's Future
- Our Council Strategy 2022-2026
 
Infrastructure for
Communities – The scheme is located within the District
of Tonbridge & Malling and is consistent with
‘Infrastructure First’ principles by accelerating the
delivery of key transport infrastructure and enhancing leverage of
external infrastructure investment within the district from central
government. The scheme will also contribute towards providing
viable and attractive travel options that focus on both road and
active travel modes.
 
How the
proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s Future 2022
-2026:
Securing Kents Future
- Budget Recovery Strategy.pdf
 
The scheme will
utilise £300,000 of the Public Rights of Way (PROW) core
budget which has been allocated to this project with the remaining
scheme development activities funded by existing (ringfenced)
external sources, therefore the scheme will not compromise
Objective 1. No funding is required from the Council’s
feasibility reserve which is relevant to Objective 2. The close
alignment of the scheme to Framing Kent’s Future is therefore
consistent with Objective 3. 
 
 

Decision

As Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport,
I agree to:
 
1.         APPROVE
the progression and delivery of the Aylesford Towpath improvements
scheme.
 
2.         APPROVE
that the cost of staff and consultancy time for the delivery and
supervision of the project, be recovered against project
funding.
 
3.         DELEGATE
authority to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and
Transport to obtain and implement Statutory Orders, approvals or
consents required for the scheme, including but not limited to
Compulsory Purchase Order, Side Roads Order and any Traffic
Regulation Orders required for the delivery and successful
operation of the scheme.
 
4.         DELEGATE
authority to the Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with
the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport, to
negotiate and complete all required land acquisition including by
means of Compulsory Purchase Order as necessary to secure the
delivery and future maintenance of the scheme.
 
5.         DELEGATE
authority to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and
Transport to procure and enter into construction contracts as
necessary for the delivery of the scheme, subject to the approval
of the Commercial and Procurement Division.
 
6.         DELEGATE
authority to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and
Transport to take relevant actions, including but not limited to,
entering into and finalising the terms of relevant contracts or
other legal agreements, as necessary, to implement the above
decision.