Road restrictions in Rainham near with red route consultation closing
A controversial consultation designed to reduce congestion on Rainham High Street closes tomorrow. But Local businesses and activists says the scheme won't work and will significantly impact the local economy.
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00:00 Yellow lines now, red lines next year.
00:03 This is what the end of Medway Council's statutory consultation could mean for Raynham High Street.
00:08 It would mean drivers would not be able to stop, load or park along red-lined roads at any time.
00:14 We've previously heard from businesses that say the plans would cause them financial harm
00:18 so they wouldn't be able to unload stock.
00:21 Following a consultation that split to 60 businesses, Medway Council have altered their proposals.
00:26 Well I'm here at the intersection between Raynham High Street and Orchard Street
00:31 and just behind me is where they're going to introduce the new loading bays.
00:35 But many businesses I've spoken to say this won't be enough.
00:39 Raynham is my business, you know, I'm probably known as the Raynham window cleaner.
00:45 One of those businesses impacted is that of Mike Norman.
00:48 He says the new loading bays won't resolve the underlying problems he's facing.
00:53 Yes it will make it very difficult because I have to wash the signs up here.
01:00 How am I going to actually wash the signs for Leuchhurst?
01:05 And how am I going to wash the other signs for my customers?
01:12 Even in the areas that have been destined for loading bays are not going to be much good
01:20 because they'd be too far from the places I clean.
01:23 And they will only allow 20 minutes.
01:25 But the leader of Medway Council says the criticism isn't shared by everyone.
01:30 I know from listening to small businesses particularly across Medway when it's come to this issue,
01:35 there's a mixture of opinions.
01:36 Some businesses are really welcoming this actually and want to see this come forward.
01:41 I know some of those spoke to KMTV.
01:43 Others have a less positive view and that's completely understandable.
01:46 That's why we've listened in particular when it comes to the issue of loading bays.
01:50 We've made sure that during that informal consultation we were in listening mode
01:54 and we made those changes as we move forward to the statutory consultation which finishes shortly.
01:59 I can't really see any sort of problems.
02:01 I mean delivery should only really take about 20 minutes anyway.
02:04 This business, Chartered Wood Mobility, supports the scheme.
02:08 But despite their support they still think the consultation should be longer.
02:11 I understand why some businesses think that maybe there should be an extension on the consultation.
02:16 I agree with that as well.
02:18 I think there probably should be just something after Christmas while it dies down
02:22 just so that they can still get their thoughts in.
02:24 The consultation which started at the end of November comes to an end tomorrow.
02:28 But the debate around this high street will rage on.
02:31 Oliver Leeds of the Sacks reporting for KMTV.