Medway Council has revealed the results of a consultation on how it intends to spend £170m of government cash.

The authority surveyed residents to determine how they felt about how it could develop 10,600 new homes and infrastructure on the Hoo Peninsula.

Leaflets were sent to 24,500 households with 552 responses coming back. Additional feedback arrived via 227 emails.

The consultation, which took place between January and April, focussed on improvements to rail, road and the environment.

The £63m proposal for a new railway station at Sharnal Street and a passenger service connecting Hoo with London were previously criticised by councillors after plans were dropped to also provide a service into the Towns.

A lack of demand was cited as the main reason for Southeastern not backing the idea.

In the consultation, 37% agreed that reinstating the Grain branch line was important, while 36% disagreed.

A total of 57% of respondents were concerned the rail service may lead to an increase of traffic to the station, while others were worried about the environmental impact trains would have (51%) and the cost of services (50%).

However, 39% agreed benefits would come from ensuring the area would be well connected and accessible, and another 36% said the service would reduce the reliance on cars.

People were also asked for their views on proposed road improvements which include new slip roads, junctions and interchanges on the A228 and A229, as well as a relief road via Woodfield Way.

Part of these plans include a spur link road, proposed to cut through a southern section of Deangate Ridge sports complex, linking Upchat roundabout to the Main Road Hoo roundabout, as well as slip roads on and off the A289 Hasted Road, linking it to Higham Road.

Both of these were the subject of a petition signed by more than 4,000 people and presented to Parliament by the area's MP Kelly Tolhurst in July.

While 44% of those surveyed said improving road links was important, 41% disagreed and 15% did not voice their opinion.

Concerns were raised about the loss of rural feeling (81%), as well as increased traffic (78%) and the environmental impact of improving road links (76%).

But 36% recognised the benefits of road improvement in order to reduce the reliance on a single main road on and off the peninsula.

Part of the plans include a £14m investment in green spaces and environmental enhancements – more than three quarters of respondents said this was important to them.

In July, the council approved plans put forward by itself to create a new community park between Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden, which is the first of the proposed environmental interventions as part of the HIF.

Council leader Cllr Alan Jarrett (Con) said: “The consultation has given us a useful insight into the views of a section of the community and provides valuable feedback on the outline proposals we presented.

“This is part of a wider conversation we need to have across the whole of Medway as part of creating the Local Plan.

"No-one is happy about the level of new homes the government has told us to deliver across all Medway by 2037 and we are obliged to meet this target."

As per the government's housing targets, the authority is tasked with delivering 26,962 homes – which is equivalent to 1,586 homes a year – across the Towns by 2037, which is also the period during which a new Local Plan will be in place.

"The HIF funding allows us to accommodate new homes on the peninsula in a way that is clearly thought through to look after the environment, put in place road and rail improvements and sustain our communities.

“The consultation shows there is concern about the impact extra development would have on existing residents as well as the environment.

“We are already reviewing their ideas regarding how to improve access to the Hoo Peninsula and reduce congestion in the local area.”

"However, there is also an underlying understanding of the benefits that the £170m investment could bring.

"As we refine our plans further and add more detail, I am confident these benefits will become clearer and will help to allay any concerns.

“We would like to thank the respondents who made 111 suggestions as to how they thought the highways proposals could be improved.

“We are already reviewing their ideas regarding how to improve access to the Hoo Peninsula and reduce congestion in the local area.”

An executive summary of the consultation responses and the full document setting these out can be found on the council's website at bit.ly/3kLdQ8G

A second round of consultation lasting six weeks is due to commence in November.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway