Temporary Closure to Maidstone East Station High Level Footbridge

9.32.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 10th Jul 2008

The temporary closure of the high level footbridge between Maidstone East Station and Buckland Hill, for much needed refurbishment and repairs, has now been reprogrammed to be carried out during the August school holiday period.

Unfortunately, in 2007 the work had been planned to be undertaken during school term time. This would have required that between 400 and 500 children, who use the bridge each weekday, as their main walking access route to the Girls Grammar School and Maplesden Noakes School, be diverted along some of the busiest roads in the centre of Maidstone adding up to a mile to their journey.

Following complaints from residents, Liberal Democrat County Councillor Ian Chittenden, discussed the serious concerns and risks with Highway Officers, who immediately postponed the work which will now be carried out outside school term time. The Bridge will be closed between the 28th July and the work completed by the 1st September.

Ian says, "I was very pleased with the action taken by Senior Highway officers. As soon as they understood the problem, and the risk of diverting the children along such a difficult and busy route, they immediately agreed to cancel the work, and rearrange it to be undertaken during this years school summer holidays."