'Liberal Democrats strongly criticise the Council's handling of the Hoo Development Consultation'

Liberal Democrats found the Council's handling of the 'HIF, New Routes to Growth consultation' flawed and we found parts of the consultation not fit for purpose after highlighting a list of serious issues. The consultation appears to have been rushed due to the need to allocate money to a deadline. In particular the consultants for the railway section changed since previous rounds and we understand that cost saving was a factor in this decision.

The dropping of the Higham Curve to provide a service connecting Hoo to the Medway urban conurbation, showed a lack of ambition meaning that a service extension to Thamesport and Grain being written off. Full electrification of the line is needed to Grain, rather than the proposed diesel service to Northfleet. We have recommended that the loop near Cooling includes a station. The trains will stop there, adding a station would allow the nearby villages of Cooling, Cliffe and Cliffe Woods to board and alight there.

The consultation lacked substance and detail on plans for cycling and walking routes around the Peninsula. We felt that a holistic approach needed to be taken, to ensure infrastructure for walking and cycling routes, should of been considered from the earliest stages of plan making, and integrated into the design of the development and form part of a Medway cycling network.

Issues should have taken higher priority, the road section was weak, with the Wainscott flyover proposal raising significant concerns. The traffic flow issue on Wainscott bypass was not adequately dealt with, and air quality issues on Four Elms Hill not addressed.

The use of the existing military road was not a viable option and the junction poorly designed. The proposed changes to the Four Elms Roundabout would not serve the long term needs of Hoo or the surrounding areas of Medway. There is already a traffic flow problem that this roundabout significantly contributes towards, and the predictable increase in traffic from additional housing in Hoo means that the proposals do not go far enough. Our submission recommended a grade separated junction at Four Elms roundabout. This would of required a dual carriageway flyover and the roundabout changed to a gyratory. The upgrade shall improve traffic flow at this is major junction and is, therefore, very much justified.

John Castle, Chair of Medway Liberal Democrats said "Key information was either missing or weak from the original consultation documents, with evidence in the consultation lacking substance with "vague environmental assurances". The initial environment section was largely missing beyond the already planned Cockham Community Parkland. An area of concern were details of a new spur "relief" road from a new roundabout on Peninsula Way, which would effectively destroy the western end of Deangate and split it in two. Liberal Democrats instead suggested situating a Country Park at Deangate. This would act as a buffer to Lodge Hill, which is the only protected SSSI site in the country for breeding Nightingales, and would be a continuation of a green wildlife corridor connecting the two.

In our opinion the consultation was not being conducted positively and in good faith and was being managed in order to achieve the Council's desired outcome. The Council's leadership put green spaces and the environment as an afterthought in the initial consultation and poorly handled. Everything about the consultation was such that it is difficult to avoid the belief that it was produced with no intention other than to nod the process through."

ENDS