A delve into the archives have revealed many of the key traffic and transport pledges made for Maidstone are not that new, after all.

Former Maidstone Borough Councillor David Pickett, who while contemplating the borough's "latest" plans for enhancing the town and easing its traffic flows, dug out a Kent Messenger cutting he had kept from 2007.

It revealed:

*Further enhancement of the riverside and promotion of a concert hall/conference facility

*Support the construction of an All Saints Link Road

*Identify a a new public transport interchange to serve the town centre.

*Promote a new pedestrian footbridge from St Peter's Street to Fremlin Walk

*Sites identified for future development: Powerhub, Maidstone East Station, Robins and Day, Gala Bingo, Maidstone Library, St Peter's Wharf, Wrens Cross.

It sounds like a list from today, but in fact it they were council "commitments" back in 2007 - 13 years ago.

That's not to say some progress has not been made.

"Improving paving, street furniture and signing" and also "celebrating the town's history" were two items on the 2007 list that arguably have been met with the town's new urban regeneration.

Similarly Wrens Cross is nearing completion for new housing, the Robins and Day site has been sold for conversion to housing, but little movement has been made towards regenerating Maidstone East.

And as for the confident predictions made in 2007 by Trevor Gasson, then the borough's deputy chief executive, that the introduction of the KCC Urban Traffic Management Centre the year before would make a big difference to the town's traffic - well, you can decide.

Currently KCC is consulting on multi-million pound changes to six key junctions to "Keep Maidstone Moving."

Now high on the council's agenda is what to do with the Archbishop's Palace after KCC moves out of the building.

Mr Pickett, of Bower Street , Maidstone, said: "I am hoping our councillors will make the right decision on the future use of the historic palace. Here is an opportunity to show vision and secure for future generations one of the gems in Maidstone’s crown.

"Maidstone does not have a good history on the subject of progress and there have been many lost opportunities over the years.

"Too many projects have been missed, delayed, forgotten or just re-labelled 'aspirations.'"

"Some projects have been 'in the wind' for so many years - the improvement of the so-called Bus Station for example, at present a dark unfriendly tunnel in The Mall shopping centre.

"The Power Hub (the former Tilling Stevens day-light factory) remains unimproved and so does Maidstone East Station and the old Post Office depot, surely a great opportunity here to have a public transport interchange with a leisure complex, shops and a conference centre?

"We are now 13 years on from the date of those original - and not so original - aspirations and we have made very little progress - unlike other towns who have used their assets to great effect.

"The daily traffic chaos in the town centre must be addressed now - our air quality is some of the worst in the country - and there is urgent need for a bypass.

"We can have consultations, reports and discussions but the problem needs solving now!"

Mr Pickett said: "I hope that it will not be another decade before we see some achievements.

"Come on councillors and officers, let us see some positive action, bold thinking and vision, and to quote a phrase popular at the moment 'Let’s get it done!'"

Head to our politics page for expert analysis and all the latest news from your politicians and councils.