Call for action over Faversham Creek bridge
Faversham Town Council wants government action over the Creek Bridge
At a glance
Faversham Town Council has collected 1,500 signatures on a petition calling for a new bridge over Faversham Creek
The council says without a new bridge and sluice maintenance, the creek could silt up permanently
It wants the government to force Peel Ports, the local ports authority, to carry out the work
Peel Ports says it is waiting for a viable business case to be presented
- Published
Campaigners have called for government action in a long-running row over a bridge in Faversham.
Faversham Town Council wants the Department for Transport to force Peel Ports, the local port authority, to repair the bridge and sluices on the Faversham Creek.
The council claims the creek is silting up due to the broken sluices.
Peel Ports said it was "awaiting sight of a viable business case" before making a decision.
The current bridge is a temporary structure, brought in by Kent County Council as the highways authority to replace a swing bridge which had fallen into disrepair.
On Monday a 1,500 name petition collected by the town council was handed to the Department for Transport.
Faversham mayor Trevor Martin said the waterway was becoming less navigable and buildings were under threat.
He said: "Without fixing the bridge, you can't fix the sluices, and if the sluices don't work, as they don't at the moment, the creek will eventually silt up completely.
"It is actually blocking up where there are surface water run off outlets into the creek because they're silted up, it's causing more frequent flooding in other parts of the town."
The council is concerned for the future of the creek, which it says is silting up
A spokesperson for Peel Ports said: “Kent City Council owns and has responsibility for the public highway, and our team in Sheerness has been liaising with them since 2018.
"We are awaiting sight of a viable business case from the relevant parties. In the meantime, we will continue to engage and support on the matter, where appropriate."
A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: “We’re aware of the importance of the Faversham Creek Bridge to the local community and are supporting efforts to resolve the issue.”
A Kent County Council spokesperson said: “We understand and share the local community’s frustration and are working with all relevant partners to agree next steps and a resolution.”
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