A protest sign has been installed on the front of Stewart’s Café in Ramsgate objecting to Kent County Council’s placing of double yellow lines around the business.
The café, in Margate Road, had been running since 1979 and is owned by ‘Stewart’ Ozzy with son-in-law Nuh Köksal.
Nuh says the lines will have a massive impact and supporters warn the business could even be forced to close.
The restrictions have been ordered for Coleman Crescent, Madeira Walk and Margate Road in Ramsgate and St Peter’s Park Road in Broadstairs.
Kent County Council says this is to help improve Stagecoach’s Loop bus service, listing reasons as:
- for avoiding danger to persons or other traffic using the road or any other road or for preventing the likelihood of any such danger arising.
- for facilitating the passage on the road or any other road of any class of traffic (including pedestrians).
- for preventing damage to the road or to any building on or near the road.
- for preserving or improving the amenities of the area through which the road runs.
But protestors, including County Councillor Karen Constantine, say there has been no evidence to show the lines are needed in the area by the café.
Nuh said: “This will affect people who drive to us. If they can’t park outside they can’t have their food.
“We are a small business where people can park outside and walk in to eat and then go.”
Previously Nuh said the restrictions were not necessary, adding: “The road is large enough to allow parking and for traffic to continue moving. The issue is the lack of parking for residents, especially if they have multiple vehicles.
“The real issue is parking spaces and the lack of regulation of improper parking, such as at junctions.”
The café provided a petition signed by nearly 300 customers who are opposed to the yellow lines being installed.
The business is being supported by Cllr Constantine, who said: “I applaud the efforts by Stewart’s café owner, Nuh, and his staff and regular customers. Kent County Council simply haven’t listened or responded to the genuinely held concerns that the application of new double yellow lines will significantly impact this business – possibly leading to its closure.
“It is true that a great number of people rely on Stewart’s for fresh daily food. They most often arrive by car. This includes local residents, particularly the elderly who cannot shop and cook for themselves as easily as they used to. It also used by workmen who very frequently stop by for breakfast and lunch.
“Food at Stewart’s is plentiful, nutritious and offers excellent value for money. Nuh has worked hard and invested in the cafe over the years and has built a very successful business which Kent County Council is now jeopardising.
“This is an appalling situation given the service Stewart’s cafe provides to the community, especially during the cost of living crisis which is impacting everybody.
“To date Kent County Council has failed to provide an adequate explanation as to why it is applying double yellow lines here, beyond saying their plan is to speed up the Loop bus service. They offer no evidence and have not taken into account the impact on this business and its customers.
“I am now asking again for a proper explanation of how double yellow lines in this particular location will serve to speed up the Loop bus service, and for an Equality Impact Assessment because I believe the elderly who use this café regularly will be put to a detriment.
“Kent County Council was awarded this money from Central Government and having accepted the cash, is failing to spend it wisely. In this case, I fear this so-called improvement is mere window-dressing prior to the forthcoming General Election. Of course local people see straight through it.
“I hope Kent County Council will start to listen.”
‘Time savings’
A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesperson said: “Improving the Thanet Loop bus service is a key aim set out in KCC’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
“Our proposal seeks to repurpose a small area of parking in the immediate area of the business, with plenty of parking being retained in the surrounding area. Our proposal also seeks to reduce incidents of parking in unofficial spaces, which risk blocking the view of a pedestrian crossing, and visibility at the junction of Coleman Crescent / A254 Margate Road.
“By making these changes we will help to streamline bus journeys by reducing pinch points which slow the bus down to generate time savings, while improving safety for all road users.
“Areas where we are proposing to change parking arrangements were identified through an extensive review of bus journey times, reliability statistics, site visits and feedback from the operator.
“We will continue to listen to the views of local people, engaging with operators, passengers and members of the public.”
In response to a complaint lodged by one customer who has used the cafe for 10 years, KCC said: “The proposed parking restrictions in the area around the Café are necessary in response to the problems created by regular inconsiderate parking near junctions, traffic islands and on existing white hatching, which subsequently increase the risk to highway safety and impact on the free flow of larger vehicles (including buses).
“While the immediate area around businesses will see a small net reduction of informal parking availability, most of the proposed parking restrictions are located in areas where vehicles are often parked inappropriately.
The changes in this area will result in the loss of parking space on the southbound carriageway of Margate Road for up to 4 standard cars, opposite the Café.”
