A pedestrian bridge will almost certainly be built at Blacksole Farm after developers submitted a planning application this week.

Kitewood Group has proposed building a crossing over the railway for walkers and cyclists, linking homes on the nearby Talmead estate to the town centre.

Significantly, Kitewood has agreed to waive their right to wait for 17,000 square metres of land to be developed at Altira Business Park, which it owns, as previously agreed in the original council contract with the developers.

The limit had caused much friction between the company and local councillors.

“I have had my arguments with Kitewood in the past but all that is forgotten and forgiven – I just want that bloody bridge..." - Cllr Peter Vickery-Jones

Currently, pedestrians have to walk into the road alongside oncoming traffic to cross the Blacksole Bridge and make their way into town.

It is widely expected there will be little opposition to the new application.

Cllr Peter Vickery-Jones has been a prominent campaigner for the bridge and has just joined the planning committee, which makes decisions on developments.

He said: “I am delighted to hear them say they will not wait for the 17,000 square-metre trigger.

“They have recognised, as we did a long time ago, that there is a pressing need for a pedestrian bridge.

“If people want to walk into the town from the Talmead estate, they have to cross
that bridge.

“I have had my arguments with Kitewood in the past but all that is forgotten and forgiven – I just want that bloody bridge.

“I will be delighted to lend my support to the application in the committee. It can only do good. I hope the other councillors see the sense of it as well.”

Kitewood Group director Mike Dolan said: “We made a commitment to deliver the pedestrian and cycle bridge some time ago and we have been working with Network Rail to agree technical specifications and commercial terms of an agreement that would enable us to deliver the bridge years earlier than we are required to under the Altira Business Park planning consent.

“After discussions with Kent County Council Highways Department, it was decided the new bridge should be located to the east of the existing bridge
and this requires a fresh
planning application. Now that matters are agreed with Network Rail and KCC, we have moved forward
with this planning application at the earliest opportunity so as to deliver on
our commitments.

“We anticipate the outcome of the application will be early approval because the community, local councillors and council officers have all been keen to bring this matter forward as soon as is practical.

“We have committed to building the bridge at the earliest opportunity so once planning consent is in place and any remaining technical factors are agreed with Network Rail and KCC, we will press on with construction.

“Clearly we don’t have a date for that yet as it pre-judges the outcome of the application, but assuming it is approved we will be able to schedule a date once the outcome is known.”