A Reform-led local authority has been embroiled in controversy after council workers repainted road markings outside a school that has been closed for nearly a decade, in an incident branded a "farce" and a waste of public money.
The Costly Error
Workers for Kent County Council (KCC) recently gave a fresh coat of paint to the yellow 'School Keep Clear' zigzag lines outside the former site of Halfway Houses Primary School on the Isle of Sheppey. The crucial detail missed by the team was that the school on Southdown Road shut its doors permanently in October 2016.
The blunder was spotted and called out by Independent Swale Borough councillor Mike Whiting, who took to Facebook to express his disbelief. He questioned what was happening at the "cash-strapped" council, highlighting the irony of the situation given frequent claims of insufficient funds for vital projects.
"What a farce!" Whiting wrote. "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." He pointed out that the school building is now up for sale and suggested that different council departments need to improve their communication.
Council Response and Financial Context
In a statement to the press, Cllr Peter Osborne, KCC's cabinet member for transport, acknowledged the error and apologised for any confusion caused. He clarified that the repainting was part of a larger annual programme for signs and lines replacement, which costs around £1 million.
The specific cost for this mistaken repainting job was £350. Cllr Osborne defended the council's overall financial diligence, stating that "mistakes like these are exceedingly rare" and that highway safety inspectors conduct thousands of checks monthly to keep roads safe.
This incident comes at a sensitive time for the council, as leader Linden Kemkaran has recently warned of "difficult decisions" ahead while setting the budget following an overspend.
Political Backdrop and Local History
The error carries significant political weight, as Reform UK swept into power at Kent County Council in local elections earlier this year, partly on a pledge to slash wasteful spending. The party now controls KCC with 48 out of 81 members, having overturned the previous Conservative majority.
This is not the first time road markings have caused frustration for Kent residents. In a 2022 incident, a vigilante took matters into their own hands and painted yellow lines on a road, an action which some locals supported for safety reasons but which the council said it would rectify.
