A decision earlier in the week to expand a traffic scheme has been called-in by the local Conservative group.

Medway Council’s cabinet voted to move ahead with a second round of School Streets – a scheme which prohibits driving on certain roads during school opening and closing times - on November 19.

The plans would add nine more schools to the programme – joining the seven already participating in the initiative since it began in April.

However, the Conservative group on the local authority have called in the decision which means it will have to undergo further scrutiny at one of the committees.

In a statement, the group said it believed Medway Council was moving too quickly with bringing in new School Streets and, although the Tories don’t oppose the scheme in principle, the group want to see proof of public support and an improvement in safety and air quality.

Cllr Andrew Lawrence (Con), shadow cabinet member for regeneration, community and housing, said: “Whilst the cabinet are the executive authority, they have a duty to listen to the concerns of members of the council and residents when making far reaching decisions impacting large numbers of residents.

“Through this call in, it will ensure that there is an opportunity for residents’ concerns to be properly heard and discussed, as well as the opportunity for elected members to scrutinise the next tranche further.

“The Conservative group will support policy that is evidence based and has clear and deliverable outcomes.”

The authority’s cabinet approved the expansion on the grounds it believed it was essential to improve the safety for children walking to school.

The decision came following a consultation with local residents around each of the proposed School Streets, which showed residents inside the streets affected supported the scheme but residents in other streets nearby generally did not.

Tory leader Cllr George Perfect said the authority needed to consider the views of people who live a wider distance from the schools involved as they too are likely affected by the decision.

Some alterations to the plans were made, but all School Streets for the nine schools were progressed to the next stage - which is the legally required consultation.

Cllr Alex Paterson, portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement criticised the call-in, saying it was putting selfish drivers ahead of public safety.

He said: “Yet again Medway Conservatives have put themselves on the side of the selfish - the minority of motorists who are indifferent to the danger they put child pedestrians in, and put their own personal convenience ahead of the safety of the rest of us.

“Seven School Streets are currently helping children across Medway make safer journeys to and from school.

“The nine approved for formal consultation by Cabinet this week are no different.

“Every month 1,200 children are injured on UK roads within 500 metres of a school. By playing politics with such an important issue they have proved they are unwilling and incapable of tackling this epidemic.”

Because of the call-in, the expansion of the scheme must now go to an overview and scrutiny committee will discuss and debate the decision made by the cabinet.

The committee can then make comments to the cabinet and ask it to reconsider its decision if it deems it necessary.

The School Streets expansion will likely be discussed by one of the authority’s committees next month.