The mooted return of a "disruptive" town cycle scheme design would be met with "significant opposition", residents and business owners have warned.

Kent County Council ran a consultation on separate proposals for a new permanent route between Gravesend and Northfleet which closed last month.

The scheme aims to create a new cycle route along London Road and Overcliffe.

The road authority for Kent claims it will help cyclists access Gravesend Railway Station, the town centre, Imperial Retail Park and businesses to the north, as well as residential areas and schools.

It adds it will also provide a foundation for the expansion of the scheme to other areas.

But earlier trial designs which saw road blocks put in place across Russell Road and Prospect Grove last year divided Gravesend's Riverside ward in more ways than one.

As part of the scheme, wooden planters were installed in September to prevent cars travelling down certain roads, and opponents argued this simply created major traffic issues elsewhere.

A petition was launched after a spate of reported near misses involving HGVs and the planters were later removed.

The scheme was first introduced as part of wider changes to the road layout around Milton Road, including a new segregated "pop-up" cycle lane which was met with opposition from businesses.

And while Milton Road was not included as part of the latest consultation plans, KCC has designated it as a "potential future cycling route".

Speaking last month, Iris Smith, owner of TJ's pub in Gravesend said any attempts to bring the "Active Travel" scheme back in its prior form would be met with "significant opposition".

The landlady explained how local businesses were unable to access deliveries for weeks after fixed posts to mark the cycle lane were installed overnight.

"There was no consultation or discussion with the businesses whatsoever," she said. "The first we knew was when the workers turned up."

The posts outside her pub were eventually removed and the rest taken away a short time after.

But Mrs Smith says the businesses in Milton Road would rally against any efforts to re-instate the scheme in the same form again.

"If KCC were looking at re-instating it they would be met with significant opposition," she said.

She hastened to add they were not against cycle lanes but how they had been installed, with little input from businesses and residents, she claimed.

"We totally support the cycle lane but it was the posts that were causing significant problems.

"I'm sure they will have planned it out in a bit more detail."

So far, at least one-third of Kent's green transport schemes have been scrapped due to public discontent and pressure.

Kent County Council says it is still in the process of going through the feedback before any decision is made.

A statement last month read: “A consultation into five new concept schemes to encourage more walking and cycling in Kent has just closed.

"Unlike the initial wave of schemes, the government awarded Kent just over £6m to create permanent schemes. Consultation feedback is currently being considered before any decisions are made.”

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