A soon-to-be disused Park and Ride site in Maidstone could become a Covid-19 testing site.

The decision to withdraw from its Park and Ride contract with Maidstone council was made by the operator Arriva last month because falling passenger numbers due to the pandemic had made it unviable.

Arriva claimed it would need 1,100 users daily to break even, but only 500 customers were regularly taking the buses.

It asked the council to provide a cash subsidy to allow it to carry on, but councillors declined.

Uncertainty now hangs over the long-term future of the service’s former car parks in London Road and Willington Street.

The last Park and Ride bus is set to leave on February 19.

Maidstone council’s strategic planning and infrastructure committee will discuss the future of both car parks today.

One option being considered is to transfer the Covid-19 mobile test site to Willington Street.

While a council report admits this won’t generate any income for the council, it will “provide an important community service.”

Council officers have also considered installing a mobile unit for the NHS Galleri trial, a blood test which can detect signs of different types of cancer.

The car park could also be made available for events at Mote Park and Maidstone Studios have previously enquired of the council about using the site when shows are on.

Despite its location near Mote Park it is unlikely the Willington Street car park will reopen as a pay-to-display site with the council finding that 70% of people would use other sites instead.

Meanwhile the London Road car park is only leased by Maidstone council and there are restrictions with what it can do on that land.

Currently there are no short-term plans for the site.