Reform council repaints road markings outside school which closed in 2016

A Reform UK-run council has admitted it was an “error” to repaint road markings outside a school which closed nine years ago.

Kent County Council (KCC) said it was “sorry for any confusion” after repainting yellow zigzags and “School Keep Clear” warnings outside the former site of Halfway Houses Primary School in Sheerness.

The school moved to another location in October 2016.

The council sold the disused school buildings and grounds to Government agency Homes England in March.

Mike Whiting, an independent councillor for Swale Borough Council, described the road repainting as “a farce” and urged KCC’s departments to “talk to each other more”.

He wrote on Facebook: “What on earth is going on at cash-strapped Kent County Council?

“Rather than saving money, they have just repainted the yellow ‘School Keep Clear’ lines in Southdown Road, Halfway, almost 10 years after the school closed.

“How many times are we told there’s not enough money for really important projects, yet they waste money like this, painting irrelevant signs, both sides of the road.”

Peter Osborne, cabinet member for highways and transport for KCC, said: “The repainting of the ‘School Keep Clear’ markings on Southdown Road was carried out in error, and we’re sorry for any confusion this may have caused.

“We deliver an annual programme of signs and lines replacement in the order of £1 million and the cost of painting these lines was £350 from this budget.

“We take our financial responsibilities seriously to ensure public money is spent carefully and mistakes like these are exceedingly rare.”

Zigzags and other markings are used outside most school entrances and exits to keep them clear when pupils are crossing the road.

Reform UK took KCC with 57 out of 81 seats at the local elections in May, overturning a 30-year Tory majority.

It now has 48 councillors after removing nine, most through decisions which appear to be related to a leaked video of KCC leader Linden Kemkaran shouting and swearing at her members.

Ex-Reform councillor Bill Barrett has called the expulsions “operation clean sweep” and claimed the KCC hierarchy wanted to get rid of councillors who challenged them.