My friend John Muckle, who has died aged 81, played a key role in the regeneration of Kent Thameside, during a career in local politics lasting almost 50 years. As a member of the Kent Thameside Partnership, John worked with the charismatic architect Eric Kuhne and the developers Lend Lease in opening the Bluewater shopping centre in an abandoned chalk quarry in 1999. Other regeneration projects in which John was instrumental included the early development of Ebbsfleet and its international station, The Bridge at north Dartford, Crossways business park and the award-winning Ingress Park residential space.
John was first elected to the old Dartford borough council as a Labour member in 1965 and served as its last mayor before reorganisation in 1974. He had successive spells as deputy leader of the new council and was its leader from 1998 to 2003. He was also a Kent county councillor for 20 years, chairing the transport committee in the mid-90s. With a lifelong interest in public transport, John became the champion of the award-winning Fastrack bus rapid transport system in Kent Thameside, the first part of which was opened in 2006 and proved an instant success, carrying 1.75m passengers in its first year. Following its extension in 2009, the system now links all the key regeneration sites in Kent Thameside.
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