Fresh calls are being made for pedestrian crossings, 20mph zones and other road safety measures following another collision in Ramsgate’s Leopold Street.
Emergency services were called to the road after an older couple were hit by a vehicle yesterday (December 15). The pair were treated at the scene and then taken to a local hospital.
The collision took place near the site where a pregnant mum and her dad lost their lives when a drug-driver mounted the kerb and hit a family of five in August.
Following those tragic deaths calls were made for road safety measures, a petition was raised asking for 20mph zones across Ramsgate and a public meeting was held.
Now these calls have been renewed by ward councillor Becky Wing, who witnessed the latest incident, and fellow Central Harbour councillors Raushan Ara and Tricia Austin. They say residents are extremely concerned about the level of dangerous driving in the area and pedestrian safety issues when crossing.
They say: “This incident is another example of pedestrians having too few traffic controlled places to cross.”
Ramsgate Town Council recently asked ward councillors for highway ‘priorities’ to forward to Kent County Council.
Cllr Wing decided to walk around her ward and undertake her own Highway Improvement Plan (HIP).
The task was undertaken over a two-week period and included conversations with residents who provided useful information and ideas.
A 20 page Central Harbour HIP has been produced with several recommendations.
These include:
- The introduction of a ward wide 20 mph speed limit, which would also make cycling safer.
- The introduction of an increased number of safe crossing points that make traffic stop at key locations.
- The marking of parking bays to ensure all streets have accessible pavements for pedestrians and the introduction of parking laws that would limit the use of pavement parking outside of these bays.
Cllr Austin said: ‘After the fatal accident on Leopold Street in the summer I brought a motion to Ramsgate Town Council to ask Kent County Council for a 20mph limit in Ramsgate town centre. How many more accidents will need to happen before KCC pays attention to our request? It’s time we prioritised people over cars.”
Cllr Ara added: “The latest incident in Leopold Street highlights the need for a safer crossing for pedestrians. My thoughts are with the people involved and, as a Central Harbour ward councillor, I will keep pushing for better road safety for Ramsgate.
“Although accidents like this are rare, the number of near misses is too high, and Leopold Street is a near miss hotspot. I have raised this as a priority to KCC Highways Improvement Plan and I promise to keep all informed of any progress.”
Ramsgate county councillor Karen Constantine says she will be arranging a 20s Plenty road safety meeting in the new year. Highways, and police will be invited again, as will South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay.
She added: “Until we have a 20 mph zone, and until we establish a culture of driver caution and adherence to road regulations, accidents will continue. I hope this time, those with the authority to really make something positive happen will attend.
“It isn’t good enough that they ignore the publics continued requests. KCC plan to get to zero accidents by 2050 needs cooperation. If it’s ever going to be achieved.”
Highway plan
The highway plan produced by ward councillors also contains recommendations for parking, including a wider network of resident parking schemes that encourage smaller and electric vehicles; a full review of car parks and access to ‘free time limited parking’ anywhere in Thanet for carers while at work. Port Tunnel maintenance, a lack of EV-charging and other highway issues have also been outlined.
Cllr Wing has made the HIP available to resident groups in the ward and is happy to email to any residents who would like to have a look and contribute.
Ward councillors say they will be ‘pushing’ Thanet council and KCC to give road and pedestrian safety and other highway issues high priority.
Cllr Wing added: “The issues are complex and interlinked and so only through a co-ordinated approach from Thanet council and KCC will things really change.
“I wish Margate well with the extension of its 20mph zone but wonder why Ramsgate remains possibly the only town centre in Kent without such a traffic calming scheme.”
A consultation on changing 10 Ramsgate roads to 20mph zones was run by Kent County Council earlier this year and closed in September. A final report is yet to be published.
Cllr Wing can be contacted on [email protected]
