Simon Finlay

Kent County Council is consulting on the proposed disposal of three acres of open space in Riddles Road, Sittingbourne, which has been used by local residents for decades and was once part of a grammar school site. Residents fear the land could be sold to housing developers, citing the area’s existing construction and lack of council communication. Campaigners are considering applying for village green status to protect it. Labour MP Kevin McKenna has backed exploring that option and questioned whether KCC should sell assets before local government reorganisation takes effect. The council says the land was declared surplus in July 2026 and that no disposal decision will be made until the consultation closes on 24 September.

The B2163 through Leeds near Maidstone has closed again for private works linked to a housing development, diverting traffic onto narrow back roads and causing severe congestion. Councillor Gill Fort and local residents say Kent is overwhelmed by roadworks, housing growth and inadequate advance warning. Other councillors are calling for the Leeds-Langley relief road to be reconsidered during Kent’s planned local government reorganisation. Kent County Council reported a 7% year-on-year increase in July road closures, while defending summer works as necessary and noting that many disruptions are caused by utility companies beyond its direct control.

Politicians and local campaigners are calling for South East Water to become a statutory consultee on major housing applications in Kent, arguing that councils should establish whether water and wastewater infrastructure can support planned growth. The company warned it may be able to supply only one-third of nearly 20,000 planned homes in Tonbridge and Malling over the next 16 years. Supporters say mandatory consultation would expose capacity constraints earlier, while Labour MP Jim Dickson and the UK Government caution that statutory status could effectively give water companies a veto. The Government has rejected the proposal in favor of closer coordination between water and development planning, although South East Water says it will continue reviewing applications and working with councils.

Residents of Queen’s Road and West Walk in Maidstone are demanding tighter controls on houses in multiple occupation after disruptive construction, pavement obstruction, property damage, noise and concerns about parking and community character. The properties can legally be converted into HMOs with six or fewer bedrooms because the areas currently lack Article 4 restrictions requiring planning permission. Maidstone Borough Council has spent a year gathering evidence to designate high-impact zones, with councillor Stuart Jeffery hoping stronger controls will be introduced by the end of 2026. Residents have gathered about 100 petition signatures, while councillor Oliver Bradshaw is pursuing complaints about alleged highway and construction breaches.

Ebbsfleet parent Nursen Smith has launched a petition calling for lower-cost and more flexible Kent Travel Saver passes, arguing that prices have risen from £450 to £615 in four years while the pass remains unavailable on evenings, weekends and school holidays. About 20,000 pupils use the scheme, with discounted passes for 3,100 lower-income children rising to £170 in 2026–27. Councillors Victoria Akintomide-Akinwamide and Rob Yates support the campaign and propose publicly controlled or free school transport. Kent County Council says its 5% increase is needed to sustain a scheme subsidized by more than £7 million annually, and warns that broader validity would raise costs; it says reduced-price passes remain available to eligible low-income families.

Parents and local councillors rallied outside Chilmington Green School in Ashford demanding a dedicated bus service, warning that the current lack of transport and the officially designated walking route are unsafe for pupils. Concerns focus on long and poorly lit paths requiring multiple crossings of the A28. The stalled Chilmington Green housing development has delayed infrastructure funding that was expected to support school transport. Kent County Council maintains the route has been deemed safe and says funding limitations restrict options. Campaigners continue to push for urgent action as the school grows and signatures on a petition rise.

Water shortages and infrastructure failures in Kent, attributed largely to South East Water, are raising doubts about the viability of continued large-scale housing development. Local officials warn that water stress poses risks to growth, public services, and the environment, yet national housing targets persist. The piece argues for a moratorium on new development until water systems, roads and public services are improved, noting that upcoming political leadership could use the crisis as justification for policy change.

The fire station at Grain on the Hoo Peninsula has been removed from a list of proposed closures after Medway Council’s chief executive highlighted the area’s industrial risks and infrastructure. Kent Fire and Rescue Service continues to consider wider changes, including closing several part‑time stations and altering staffing models, prompting the Fire Brigades Union to warn that industrial action remains possible due to potential loss of on‑call roles. Final decisions on whether to put the proposals to public consultation will be made by the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority on August 6.

Kent County Council approved changes to its DOLGE unit, shifting it into a new phase focused on promoting cost‑consciousness across departments. Reform UK leaders defended the unit by citing significant savings, while opposition councillors argued that such efficiencies are part of routine governance and questioned the value of the rebranding. Debate also included calls to reinstate the treasury management group for improved transparency. The committee endorsed the reforms by majority vote.

Opposition councillors declared Kent County Council’s Department for Local Government Efficiency defunct as the Reform UK administration prepared to rebrand it as a broader, collaborative efficiency strategy. Critics from Conservative and Green groups argued the unit never produced genuine savings and accused Reform UK of exaggerating financial achievements, citing unsubstantiated claims and cuts that were never budgeted. The administration defended its approach, claiming significant savings, debt reduction and improved financial performance, while emphasising a shift to a council-wide efficiency model for its second phase.

A three-day road closure for SGN gas valve repairs in Leeds, Kent, severely disrupted trade at the George Inn pub, prompting landlord Jason Tharp to condemn the duration and lack of warning. The diversion eliminated passing traffic, affecting both the pub and the local primary school. SGN cited safety and necessary concrete setting time for the extended closure, while Kent County Council said emergency works are difficult to challenge. Ongoing infrastructure issues and increased roadworks linked to housing development continue to strain local businesses and traffic flow.