Campaigners are demanding action over a long-broken bridge at Faversham Creek, which they say will bring life back to the town once it is restored.

Residents claim Peel Ports is dodging its responsibility to maintain Faversham’s waterways, likening their efforts to “beating your head against a brick wall”, which the port authority disputes.

The area used to have an opening bridge and a sluice gate which controlled water levels. But the basin of Faversham Creek is now “a big expanse of mud,” after the bridge fell into disrepair, says Faversham Town and Kent County Councillor Antony Hook (Lib Dem).

It is hoped that a return of the bridge and sluice gate will bring in more boats and tourists to the creek. Campaigners also say trades such as boat building have declined in the area since the bridge’s demise.

A temporary structure, rented by Kent County Council (KCC) has sat over the creek for the last few years.

Residents campaigned for years for the return of a functional swing bridge and sluice gate - even raising more than £125,000.

Cllr Hook said: “In 2016 KCC made a promise to fix the bridge and sluice gates, and they said if local people contributed some of the cost they’d put in the rest of the cost.”

He said there was a cost estimate of £1.2m. As well as the £125,000 from residents, the town council pledged funds as did Swale Borough Council. He said one resident even pledged £250,000.

Cllr Hook explained that since an engineering firm predicted the cost would likely be a million pounds higher, KCC did not meet the extra cost.

KCC says it has spent £500,000 on investigations at the bridge and installing a temporary structure, but works are stalled until the creek is dredged, which is up to Peel Ports.

With other town councillors, Cllr Hook met with Peel Port’s lawyer who, he says “was really trying to fob us off.”

“I think he probably thought Faversham Town Council would be some bunch of yokels who didn’t know what we were talking about.”

However, Peel Ports says it has held meetings with KCC, Faversham Town Council and Faversham and Mid Kent MP Helen Whately.

Peel Ports says it is waiting for a viable business case to proceed, after putting forward proposals to KCC, and understand the town council’s frustrations.

The town council has started an online petition calling for Peel Ports and KCC to secure a bridge.

The authority has also written to the Department for Transport (DfT) asking them to pressure Peel into securing a new bridge.

Cllr Hook described the area around the basin as “quite drab, whereas if we had the boats there there would be life, people and activity”.

He added that if Faversham Town Council takes legal action, it will likely be against the government, regarding their alleged lack of action around Peel Ports.

“if we had the boats there would be life, people and activity...”

Sue Akhurst, a trustee of the Faversham Creek Trust, says the tourism industry could get a boost if a new bridge is granted.

“I think if we brought the creek more to life, if we brought boats there, we could bring in a lot more tourists and it would be a much more attractive place,” she said.

Marion Barton, one of the co-founders of Where’s Our Bridge, said that when the bridge worked, “boats could come into the basin and were transporting important things for the engineering, brick building industries.”

“But also it was a real centre for boat improvements and boat building – and all that trade has died since the bridge has been unnavigable,” she added.

She says Peel Ports “really show very little inclination to take up what they need to be doing”.

“You feel as if you’re beating your head against a brick wall,” she added.

A KCC spokesperson said the council “has been actively working alongside Faversham Town Council and local community groups to progress restoration of a permanent bridge in Faversham”.

They added: “To date KCC has spent around £500,000 from its highway budget to undertake investigations, remove the dilapidated structure, develop outline designs and provide a temporary bridge and segregated footway.

“Technically, we are at a stage of the project where further work cannot be undertaken until full dredging of the Creek has been undertaken. This activity is beyond KCC’s capability and responsibility, and requires the maritime authority, Peel Ports, to coordinate and deliver.”

Peel Ports says it is continuing to engage on the issue, and is waiting for KCC to move forward.

The company is part of The Peel Group, which owns ports around the country - including much of the waterway infrastructure in north Kent, and Chatham Dockyard.

A spokesman said: “Kent County Council owns (and has responsibility for) the public highway, and our team in Sheerness has been liaising with them on their ambitions for Faversham Bridge since 2018. We previously held a meeting with Helen Whately MP and representatives from KCC in January 2020 and several actions for KCC were agreed.

“We understand Faversham Town Council’s frustrations and met with council representatives in November 2021. In this meeting, we provided proposal documents we had sent to KCC in May 2019, containing actions that have yet to be progressed.

“In June 2021, Robert Courts MP (then Minister for Aviation, Maritime & Security), asked KCC to work with the relevant parties on their proposals for the Creek and the Bridge.

“We are awaiting sight of a viable business case from the relevant parties. In the meantime, we will continue to engage and support on the matter, where appropriate."

A DfT spokesperson said: “We’re aware of the importance of the Faversham Creek Bridge to the local community, and are supporting efforts to resolve the issue.”