The Seafront and Engineering Manager introduced the report.

The Chair invited Members to ask questions.  Comments and questions raised included:

·         Would there be sufficient turning space in Church Road for coaches?;

·         the bays would be adjacent to the Bramble Hill Road junction and on a very strange bend and considered it was a “peculiar” location for a coach bay;

·         aware of parking problems in the location;

·         double yellow lines should be installed opposite the bays in Church Road/Upper Brents, rather than single yellow lines, if the proposed parking bay was going to be retained;

·         prudent comments had been raised within the consultation response;

·         traffic turning left out of The Brents car park could meet traffic travelling north-east along Church Road and did not support the proposal;

·         considered a wider consultation should be undertaken;

·         concerned about the location and considered that Love Lane, Faversham was more appropriate as it was wider; and

·         suggested that the item be referred back to the Faversham Destination Marketing Group to review the proposed location and consider other options including Love Lane, Faversham.  Also to consult with Faversham Football Club to establish whether any of their land was available in Salters Lane.

In response the Seafront and Engineering Manager said sufficient turning space had been raised as a concern following the consultation as set-out in Annex B of the report.  He said that he would liaise with the relevant KCC officer about this concern prior to any Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).  He did not believe the location of the bays was directly on Bramble Hill Road junction, which he considered was further south.  He said it was opposite the Brents Car Park but agreed to investigate the exact location and inform the relevant Member.  The Active Travel Co-Ordinator confirmed the location was outside the Church.  The Seafront and Engineering Manager explained that a single yellow line could be timed which would help to minimise the impact on on-street parking.  The Seafront and Engineering Manager said that if this was to progress to a TRO then it would be advertised on-site and via the local press, but if a wider consultation was deemed appropriate then officers could pursue.  He said he was unaware of the current arrangements for the Macknade coach parking trial and there was some urgency to resolving the issue of coach parking but it was important that whatever was agreed worked and was going to be used.  Once the location of the bays had been agreed then a formal TRO would be progressed which would take approximately 12 months from start to finish.  Any formal objections received would be reported back to the JTB.

KCC Andy Booth moved the following amendment:  That the proposed coach parking bay in Church Road/Upper Brents, Faversham be not progressed, and an alternative location be found.  This was seconded by KCC Councillor Mike Dendor.

Councillor Angela Harrison moved the following addendum to the amendment:  That the proposed coach parking bay in Church Road/Upper Brents, Faversham be held in abeyance until further discussions with Faversham Town Council and ward members had taken place.  This was seconded by the Chair.  The proposer and seconder of the original amendment agreed the addendum.

Recommended:

(1)      That the results of the recent informal consultation on a proposed coach parking bay in Church Road/Upper Brents, Faversham be noted, and that the proposed coach parking bay in Church Road/Upper Brents, Faversham be held in abeyance until further discussions with Faversham Town Council and ward members had taken place.