Several Thanet projects are included in the first wave of schemes announced by Kent County Council to encourage walking and cycling.
Signs for 35 roads designated as 20mph zones in Margate town have been going up today (August 10).
The schemes are being introduced through an Experimental Traffic Order meaning they will all be installed by mid-September and a consultation will run afterwards to decide whether to make them permanent.
Restrictions run from Nayland roundabout to Trinity Square and up to the Winter Gardens on the approach to Cliftonville.
Find the roads in the scheme here
Margate county councillor Barry Lewis said: “This is fantastic news for Margate. It will mean safer roads for families and I will be pressuring for more schemes in Thanet over the next few years.”
There are also several other traffic changes across the isle.
Harbour Street and Albion Street, Broadstairs
Through traffic will be stopped from using Albion Street from the junction with Charlotte Street to the entrance to Albion Street car park. The scheme will create a new pedestrianised zone between 10am and 10pm. Access will be maintained for deliveries, pedestrians, cyclists and buses
School Street – Drapers Mills Academy, Margate
In addition to this, signs and road narrowing on College Road will warn drivers of the changes and help to slow down traffic passing the school.
A Park and Stride site will be established with access to an improved public right of way five minutes’ walk from the site. Public Footpath TM4 and Public Bridleway TM5 will see full vegetation clearance, route surfaces scraped and renewed to maximise width and improve safety.
Station Road, Westgate-On-Sea
A one-way system heading west between Roxburgh Road and St Mildred’s Road will be created, including changes to parking bays to encourage active travel whilst promoting social distancing in a shared space.
Planters, seating and bolt down lane delineators will be used to reallocate road space. Bus operation will be unaffected.
‘Active travel’
The trials form part of the government’s push for ‘active travel’ in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and Kent County Council has provisionally been allocated just over £8 million by the Department for Transport to invest in walking and cycling.
The first round of funding that has been agreed by government is £1.6 million with the remainder dependent on this being spent within eight weeks.
A second wave of schemes will be dependent on the government’s decision to award further funding. A submission was made this week and further schemes will be announced once funding has been confirmed.
Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport Michael Payne said: “Kent Highways has been successful in being granted 100% of the money that we were able to bid for in the first stage.
“This means the first wave of schemes can now be put in place. These schemes are ready to roll having been chosen by officers from among the many ideas that have been worked on.
“If these initial trials are successful, and we subsequently receive the second tranche of monies that the Government has said it is prepared to allocate to Kent, even more schemes will be rolled out.
“We have to be realistic in that the first round of schemes will not satisfy everyone who has made suggestions, but by concept testing, in a way that has not been previously affordable, we have the chance to encourage more cycling and walking and make our roads safer for all users.”
Excellent news!
The closure of Albion Street and Harbour Street Broadstairs, indicates a failure to consider many issues, in particular the disabled! If it is going to happen blue badge holders should be exempt too.
a) The Albion Street closure will prevent the disabled, such as my wife and son, accessing the restaurants in the road, and will also result in the loss of 2 of the few disabled parking spaces in Broadstairs.
b) The Harbour Street closure will prevent my family from reaching the beach, where we have a beach hut, as the lift is also closed!
c) The closure of Harbour Street will also result in:
1) Loss of further disabled spaces on the pier car park
2) Access to the restaurants and Pavillion will also be prevented
3) Loss of income for TDC from harbour car park charges
4) Lack of access for those wishing to launch boats.
d) The closure of Albion Street will cause issues for those living in Alexander Road
e) Increased traffic along Carlton Ave and down Crow Hill
There is NO requirement for the closure of Albion Street, as Pedestrians and cyclists can safely use the esplanade if they feel threatened by traffic!
I
Need to get the lift fixed for dda, mums buggies, etc. Also need a good pavement for wheelchair users, mobility scoots, buggies. This space should be for all, but please car domination is conterproductive.. personally i walk sliw cos of me back but I’d like all the cafes ti have seats outside. I’m afraid im agaist the cars ploughing up our lives, noise, fumes and young men racing, it has to be stopped. Please for more buses being electric and smaller and more frequent. Maybe porters ti help with dda..
What about Ramsgate?
Best advice I have, is form a community group and campaign to your local and KCC Councillors. It’s had, and is having, an effect here.
Any chance along London Road Ramsgate?
Disappointed to see no mention of Ramsgate here too. The town centre would definitely benefit from traffic calming measures.
Good point, Ramsgate is attracting too many boy racers driving around with blown out exhausts and needs 20mph zones ASAP!!!
Speed cameras and 20mph zones around Ramsgate Harbour please.
This needs to be quickly extended to Cliftonville West residential streets between Northdown Rd and the seafront as we asked and pleaded previously. Is KCC listening at all?
There’s a local campaign going. Athelstan RD is now 20mph. I’m in touch with local and KCC Councillors about Approach RD and others.
Happy to share information!
20’s Plenty Campaign also set up…
Just hope they can police it effectively .
..
Put speed camera in roads that deters as a sign people do not read nor absorb. Thanet is full of those under the influence of weed when driving
Fantastic news regarding Station Road in Westgate. Hope they come up with something for Birchington High Street too.
It’s already 20mph restricted which is never policed or adhered too! I feel these restrictions are a waste of time unless they are enforced. Cameras I suspect are the only way to enforce as London have done.
I was talking about the one way system and wider pedestrian area rather than the speed limit.
Yes it is – brilliant for Westgate.
I’m guessing you live in Birchington then. Many Westgate residents and particularly business owners do not share your enthusiasm. Could this be the death knell for our local shops?
These changes and already existing speed limits and restrictions are all very well but they are rarely enforced. Working speed cameras needed on Albion Street, Broadstairs.
Great news, about time. Could we have a pedestrian crossing on the Canterbury road in birchington at the bottom of the hill. All roads need updating in Thanet.
I would make the whole of Margate a 20 zone. Apart from being safer, cheaper to instigate, more effective at calming fast drivers, quieter, more fuel efficient, etc etc, all these signs are ugly and confusing.
I’d make all of THANET 20 mph!
So would I! I’m completely fed up with (what seems like the majority of )drivers’ attitude that compared to pedestrians and cyclists they are superior beings and that their convenience is more important than other people’s safety.
We live in Stone Road so it will be a real problem for us if Albion Street is closed to traffic.
Ramsgate needs a serious clamp-down on irresponsible drivers parking on pavements, speeding on narrow streets, mounting the pavement (this happens frequently on Effingham Street where I have almost been hit on numerous occasions), not to mention a reduction in vehicles to clear the pollution.
Has there been a consultation done on these proposals ? Can the proposed be seen on KCC web site ?
I don’t see how 20mph speed restrictions on the roads makes anything safer for cyclists or pedestrians
The only cycling related a ton that I’ve seen in Ramsgate is a large “no cycling” sign painted on the prom.
Can we please have new “20” mph signs in the existing roads. Stirling Way signs are beyond faded, and I am feed up with idiots up the back of my car and the rude signs from them when I travel down the road.
Good now lets shut broadstairs at the bottom to traffic
Interesting comments;.general point, i have lobbied for years for 20 miles limit in my Margate division,,so in away i was first in the queue when the government handed money for road safety measures.,those who live outside Margate please lobby your Local county councillor to get it done in your area, however they might not all support 20 miles schemes
Why don’t they put red lines outside schools stop people dropping off and parking??
Agree with the proposal for Broadstairs but would close the road from the Ramsgate Road junction with the High Street through to Albion Street car park. Sailing Club boat owners and people who work on the jetty could access by the slope in Stone Bay. Why not employ Traffic Wardens who will fine illegal parking, not only would they cover their wages, in Thanet they would make a profit!! Inconsiderate and ignorant cyclists also need reigning in. There are those among their number who have complete disdain for people who are walking on the promenades
My husband and i live in westgate and are not happy about the changes proposed in station road. Parking spaces will be removed on one side we understand and the businesses will suffer. We like the hustle and bustle of the little town and have seen the death of many high streets where cars are prohibited and/or pedestrianisation comes in. Yes it can be difficult sometimes to park but many drivers move off within a short while. This will cause problems for older residents who cannot walk to the shops and people who want to come out at night for a meal or visit cinema if spaces to park are halved. We think there should be a consultation first and im sure this money could be better used in other deprived areas. We cant see its anything to do with social distancing