A second consultation has been launched asking people to give their views on a new cycle route along a busy main road.

The proposals involve a road scheme between Margate and Birchington along the A28 Canterbury Road designed to make it safer and easier to use for cyclists and pedestrians.

Funded by the government's Active Travel Fund, plans include new and improved crossing points, a reduction in traffic lanes on the A28 and wider footpaths as well as the new cycle path.

Kent County Council, which is behind the plan, says a key element of the scheme is to make it safer and more pleasant for people who walk and cycle.

Most of the scheme runs along the A28 Canterbury Road, travelling from Birchington, following the A28 past Westgate-on-Sea to join Westbrook Road, connecting to the Viking Coastal Trail.

KCC says the route would provide better connections to key destinations in and around the towns - including railway stations, schools, town centres, coastal attractions and business areas.

The proposals also include improved crossing facilities and wider footways "to make these streets more welcoming for people walking".

'Broadening the travel options available to people can help to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality' - David Brazier

Site surveys are being carried out and will be used alongside people's feedback to develop the detailed design.

Proposals include junction layout revisions to give more priority to people walking and cycling, including at the junctions of the A28 Canterbury Road/ Minster Road and by the Hussar Hotel.

There would also be new and improved crossing points, short sections of shared pedestrian and cycle paths, and a reduction in the number of traffic lanes on the A28 Canterbury Road to allow for a new separate cycle track.

This would involve reducing the carriageway to a single lane in each direction for most of the route between Queen Bertha’s Avenue and St James’s Park Road.

The two lanes on the approaches to the A28 Canterbury Road and Minster Road junction will be retained to help reduce congestion.

Proposals are also for raised tables at crossing locations, changes to the bus stop layout and the closure of Epple Road to through traffic to prevent rat-running.

The cycle route will connect to the existing Viking Coastal Trail along the Westbrook Promenade in Margate and along the coast.

Kent County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport David Brazier says people have taken to more environmentally-friendly ways of getting around in the last year and a half.

"The results of our initial consultation in winter show people would be encouraged to swap their cars for bikes or walking if these routes are installed," he said.

"Active travel can benefit health and wellbeing by incorporating physical activity into everyday routines.

"Broadening the travel options available to people can also help to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

"In Kent, we are already on the path to more sustainable travel. Changing patterns of behaviour have provided opportunities to invest in making local places easier and more pleasant to travel by foot and bike, whilst enabling essential local trips to still be made by car."

The Margate to Birchington plan is one of four schemes being consulted on it Kent.

Visit www.kent.gov.uk/kentactivetravel to view the relevant consultation document. The consultation closes on October 25.

For queries or requests for hard copies, email traffic.schemes@kent.gov.uk or call 03000 41 81 81 referencing the scheme name.

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