The Vice-Chairman in-the-Chair welcomed the Planner and Adrian Berendt to the meeting.

The Planner introduced the report which outlined the contents of the Faversham Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and set out how it would be used by SBC and KCC in their decision making. 

Adrian Berendt, one of the consultants involved in the Faversham LCWIP gave a presentation on the key elements of the document.  He stated that SBC, KCC and Faversham Town Council had been working closely on the project and had followed the Department for Transports recommended process for developing a LCWIP: scoping the project; gathering information; network planning for cycling; network planning for walking; prioritising improvements; and integration and application and detailed each stage for Members. 

The Vice-Chairman in-the-Chair invited Christopher Wright to speak on the item.

Mr Wright said that as a resident of Faversham he walked and cycled every day in the town and said the town was cut into pieces by railway lines and by the A2 and M2 and this affected the way people could move around.  He welcomed the Faversham LCWIP which he considered would help people to move around the town more easily and in ways more friendly to the environment.  Mr Wright said that as a traffic researcher he was conscious of the need to reduce vehicle mileage by a considerable margin to: accommodate the population growth; deliver the carbon reductions needed to combat climate change; and to prepare for driverless cars which could have the effect of increased demand for road travel by a margin that no one can yet foresee.  The Faversham LCWIP was an important first step in raising public awareness for the need for change and influencing the way we got about.  He added that it would be a star feature at the forthcoming visit in April 2022 of Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation delegates.

The Vice-Chairman in-the-Chair opened the debate to Members and comments made included:

The plan area seemed to cover parts of neighbouring parishes.  

Some of the maps are difficult to read 

Some figures in tables don’t match what is in text.  

Improvements at Brenley Corner to make it safer to cycle and walk had not been successful.  

The current KCC review of buses needs to be referenced    

Point 9 is also about another project so ideally should go. 

Final paragraph should read ‘the planner agreed to confirm how much of the project area lies in the parishes of Boughton and Selling and to check for any other errors in the document’ 

·         The plan area seemed to cover parts of neighbouring parishes;

·         Some of the maps were difficult to read;

·         Some figures in tables did not match what was in the text;

·         Improvements at Brenley Corner to make it safer to cycle and walk had not been successful; and

·         the current KCC review of buses needed to be referenced.

In response Mr Berendt said that this was solely about the Faversham town Council border but did include part of Oare.  In response to a concern from Parish Councillor Jeff Tutt, the Planner agreed to confirm how much of the project area was in the parishes of Boughton and Selling and check for any other errors within the document.

Recommended:

(1)      That the contents of the document be noted.

(2)      That the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) be used as evidence base in SBC and KCC decisions, especially in KCC Highways Strategies and Plans, KCC and SBC planning applications and their associated Section 106s and to inform the SBC Local Plan Review.

(3)      That the LCWIP be used by both SBC and KCC to assist in applying for funding for active/sustainable travel initiatives.