The launch of Kent’s first zero-emission bus route has been delayed until later this year – despite signs stating it will open in “early 2024”.

Dover Fastrack, which is set to cost £34m, will see electric buses connect Whitfield with Dover town centre and Dover Priory railway station.

A new 1.1km road and a bridge over the A2 are being built for the scheme, which was approved in 2021.

Initially, the project was expected to be up and running by autumn 2023, but delays meant contractors were instead aiming for early this year.

Signs were put up around Dover advertising the start date, but now Kent County Council (KCC) has confirmed it has been held up again.

A spokesman said: “Work is progressing well on our Dover Fastrack scheme, and we look forward to making it easier for people to use public transport.

“Unfortunately, we will not be able to open in early 2024 as originally anticipated but will be providing a fresh timeline in the coming weeks for the start of the new service.”

Deputy leader at Dover District Council Jamie Pout (Lab) says he is hopeful the service will instead be ready by the summer.

“It’s a big project and like all big projects, they often overrun which is slightly disappointing because we would like to get people on that route as soon as possible,” he said.

“We are not going to be able to do early 2024, but we are pressing for it to be done as soon as possible, before the summer if we can.

“It will be great for the town, and it is important we have green initiatives.

“People in Whitfield, and those moving into the new builds, will benefit from a multimillion-pound transport scheme to help them get into Dover.

“It is also important for tourism, it will help people get to Dover Castle, school kids will be able to use it and so will the elderly so there are a lot of people who will benefit from this fantastic infrastructure project.”

The delay comes as residents are facing an eight-week road closure as part of works to complete the new route.

Dover Road in Guston shut last month for further works, including road widening and resurfacing, as well as water supply work.

This is the only direct route from Dover town centre to the Burgoyne Heights housing estate and without it residents have had to take a long detour.

They were sent a letter from KCC telling them the road will be shut in up to three phases for at least eight weeks.

Meanwhile, a consultation to stop rogue car drivers using banned parts of the new bus route has also started, as some of the road will only allow buses, pedestrians and cyclists.

KCC is asking the public for its views to place ANPR (automatic number-plate recognition) cameras to catch those who flout this.

The consultation is currently on and will continue until March 12.

The council's accompanying notice says: “We are proposing to install ANPR cameras at five new bus gates in Whitfield.

“In other locations across the county, bus gates have been abused by drivers, leading to delays to the bus network.

“This affects the punctuality of the buses and makes the service less attractive to passengers.”

The five bus gates cover two banned route parts. One is Farmstead Way, a new link between the B&Q roundabout at Whitfield and Dover Road in Guston.

The other is Red Kite Road, which has the new bridge over the A2 near Tesco, put up last summer.

Two gates are at either end of Farmstead Way at the junctions with Dover Road, Guston and Honeywood Parkway (the B&Q roundabout).

Two others are at Red Kite Road, just north of that bridge, and at the junction with Honeywood Parkway, the Tesco roundabout.

The fifth is at the junction with Richmond Way and Archers Court Road.

The route is estimated to take up to 25 minutes one way and will be operated by Stagecoach.

The whole scheme is set to cost £34m with Homes England putting forward £22.9m, the Department for Transport giving £9.5m, and Dover District Council adding £1.42m.

KCC is also looking into plans for a new contraflow in Pencester Road, which would allow buses and cycles to travel in both directions for the first time.

The proposals would require all the parking spaces outside a row of shops to be removed, and parts of the path made smaller.

But traders fear removing vital parking bays to make way for a new £1.5m bus lane as part of the Fastrack scheme could have a devastating impact on the town centre.

Iain Buchanan, owner of Alternative Kitchens in Worthington Street, said: “This is a short street; rearranging it will completely and utterly ruin my business.

“The obvious route to me would be going past the police station, and up to the castle.

“The Fastrack is an absolute waste of money; Dover needs a lot more than a Fastrack bus service.

“I'm not surprised to hear it has been delayed, but it is just pushing back the inevitable and I believe the whole thing should be banned.

“We have a high street that is falling apart so we need more money spent on the town itself.”

A consultation was launched in November but the results have not yet been released.