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Traffic campaigners losing their calm

19:16, 20 August 2008

Colin Parr
Colin Parr
Tony Monk
Tony Monk

Campaigners fighting to have “dangerous” traffic calming build-outs removed, say they have been let down by highway chiefs.

Coxheath parish councillors were upbeat after a meeting at the end of July when Kent County Council Highways promised to reassess traffic calming features in Heath Road.

Many believe the concrete build-outs have made the road more dangerous by forcing drivers onto the wrong side of the road, into the face of oncoming traffic.

But three weeks later, parish councillors say they have had no feedback on the scheme.

Parish councillor Colin Parr (Lib Dem), also a borough councillor for Coxheath, said: “We’ve not seen anything as promised. We asked that communication be often and frequent in the run up to seeing something. That has not occurred.”

He said the council had been led to believe KCC Highways would offer new suggestions within three weeks after the July meeting.

He added: “I can assure you this will not rest. We’ll sort this mess out.

“It’s between the parish council and Highways and we will not rest until we have this sorted.

“Most of the concerns were made available to Highways 18 months ago when it all started.”

Former KCC environmental health officer Tony Monk - who is also campaigning against the build-outs - said there was no excuse for the lack of communication.

Mr Monk, of Westerhill Road, said: “I used to work for KCC - if I said I would do something in three weeks, and I didn’t, professionally I would be very embarrassed.”

Cllr Roger Manning (Con), the county council’s lead member for transport, said it was unlikely that a decision on the scheme would be reached before the end of the school holidays.

He said: “We have taken on board the concerns that have been expressed and we are looking carefully at the situation in Heath Road, Coxheath.

“In particular, we will want to consider the situation once the schools go back as it would be inappropriate to take any decisions for the future during the August schools holiday.

He said the Coxheath build-outs had been brought in following extensive local consultation, adding: “Traffic calming is never popular with everyone. Those people affected by traffic normally love them, while those affected by the traffic calming normally hate them.”

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