by Alex Claridge

aclaridge@thekmgroup.co.uk

The speed limit on a notorious section of the A291 between Canterbury and Herne Bay is to be lowered to 50mph.

Members of the Canterbury Joint Transport Board have agreed to support the 50mph limit for the section of the road between the Broad Oak turning and Bullockstone Road.

Peter Smith, chief executive of Wildwood wildlife park on the A291, is among those calling for a lower speed limit and wanted it reduced to 40mph where the national speed limit of 60mph is currently in force.

He said: “The stretch of road in question is an accident blackspot which has claimed lives and caused injury to many residents, most recently a motorcyclist who sadly died on the road in March of this year.

“Its long curves encourage drivers to drive too fast and visitors who come to Wildwood by bus find crossing the road stressful due to speeding cars giving them little or no time to cross.

“Wildwood offers half-price admission to bus-users and free entry to selected community groups who visit us by public transport. We feel that by offering customers an incentive to travel by public transport we are helping families to do their bit for the environment by leaving the car at home for the day.”

In the three years up to December 2010, there were 27 crashes on the section of A291 being discussed by the board. Of these, five were considered serious and one was fatal.

Council cabinet member for transport issues, Cllr Peter Vickery-Jones, said: “Lowering the speed limit on the A291 to 40mph was probably not realistic, but there is no reason why it should not be lowered to 50mph.

“I am hopeful that we can get this through in the next two or three months.”

The board approved reducing the speed limit to 50mph on the derestricted sections and has passed the matter to Kent County Council for final ratification before the new limit is legally enforced.

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