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Biker's death sparks call to KCC Highways to improve safety of London Road in Deal

17:06, 10 January 2022

updated: 19:59, 10 January 2022

A concerned Deal resident is pleading with the authorities to reassess a road's speed limit following a fatal motorcycle crash.

London Road homeowner of 43 years, Marie Stokes, believes the section of road close to the junction of Middle Deal Road should carry a 20mph speed limit.

Marie Stokes has written to KCC Highways about the issues of speeding and noise
Marie Stokes has written to KCC Highways about the issues of speeding and noise

Failing that, she feels the road should be redesigned to include a roundabout.

She also believes the bus stop should be re-located away from what she describes as a "vicious corner".

Following a fatal collision on January 2 when a motorcyclist collided with Yummy Chinese takeaway, Mrs Stokes has written to KCC Highways with her requests.

The circumstances of the collision are not yet known.

Writing on the day of the fatal collision, she penned: "Traffic is double now from when I first moved here and cars are going faster.

Floral tributes were left at the doorstep of the takeaway following the fatal motorcycle incident on January 2
Floral tributes were left at the doorstep of the takeaway following the fatal motorcycle incident on January 2

"Today another accident happened and a man has died.

"Perhaps you might do something to slow the traffic down."

Mrs Stokes told KentOnline she has been writing to Kent County Council for "years".

She said: "I've voiced concerns about traffic speed, noise pollution and cars back firing and they just say, 'No, no, no' to my suggestions.

"At the end of the day, I don't think they want to spend any money.

Floral tributes at the doorstep of the takeaway, opposite what Mrs Stokes describes as a "vicious corner"
Floral tributes at the doorstep of the takeaway, opposite what Mrs Stokes describes as a "vicious corner"

"I've always said it's going to take somebody to die, before they do something."

She says she has witnessed several near misses caused by cars overtaking buses on the bend.

"It can take 10 minutes for a gap to appear in the road to allow you to cross," she added.

Kent County Councillor Trevor Bond, who successfully fought for a 20mph zone to be introduced in Hamilton Road, outside Goodwin Academy, says he is aware of the concerns.

He said: "I have raised it with Kent Highways and the local police who are waiting for the accident report.

"I'm doing my very best to see if we can start monitoring the speed on this road and other main roads into Deal.

"There are some challenging junctions on the road and it must be policed."

A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesman said: “As with all fatal and serious crashes, Kent Police will complete a report to ascertain any causation factors.

“The findings are then shared with KCC, which upon advice from police and the coroner, undertakes any highway engineering work deemed necessary to help mitigate a similar type of incident from occurring again.

“We are unable to comment on the circumstances surrounding this incident until the coroner’s investigation is completed.”

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