A MAJOR shake-up affecting how Kent’s roads are repaired and maintained has got the green light.

Kent County Council is to push ahead with a controversial re-organisation of its highways department some 18 months after it took over the job from district councils.

As part of the shake-up, KCC says it will stick by its plan to operate the highways department from two main depots, one in Wrotham in west Kent and a second at Ashford.

Three depots had been planned but this was cut in a bid to save £3.4million. The new depots will leave KCC with a bill for £13.3million.

A third smaller satellite depot is likely to run in east Kent.

The plan for just two depots was put in limbo when a cross-party committee of backbench councillors demanded a rethink.

The county councillor in charge has admitted that the shake-up meant many staff faced being moved around but insisted that providing the best service possible had to be top priority.

Cllr Keith Ferrin (Con), cabinet member for highways, said: “It is not the best option for them [staff] but we have to provide a service and we have to bear in mind the overall demands of the service.”

While he sympathised with staff who faced having to work further away, KCC had few other options.

A report setting out the reasons for the re-organisation says up to a quarter of calls about the condition of roads would be eliminated, there would be less red tape and roads would be better maintained.