Public Consultation on parking in Kent Road, Cheriton

Kent Highway Services are consulting local residents on proposed changes in parking arrangements in Kent Road (off Shaftesbury Road), Cheriton, Folkestone.

In a letter to local residents, Kent Highway Services say:

"There have been considerable problems experienced in Kent Road, both by residents and Stagecoach, for buses accessing the Stagecoach Depot located at the end of Kent Road. This has been exacerbated in recent months by the introduction of new buses designed to provide better access for the disabled / elderly / infirm and which are longer than the old ones. In particular, difficulties occur at the sharp bend in Kent Road and the parking of vehicles close to this bend has often made it impossible for buses to get in and out of the depot. There are existing daytime parking restrictions in the road but these are often ignored and Shepway District Council often has insufficient resources to enforce those restrictions regularly. Whilst it would be most advantageous for all concerned, including Stagecoach, for the depot to be relocated elsewhere this is not a viable solution at this time.

This scheme involves:

• Realignment of the kerb on the inside of the bend to give an easier path for buses but still maintains sufficient footway width for pedestrians.
• The introduction of double yellow lines in the immediate vicinity of the bend with 'No Waiting At Any Time' restrictions. The lengths of these sections has been kept to a minimum and on-site testing with the maximum length buses has been carried out to ensure that no unnecessary restriction is being introduced.
• Removal of some sections of existing parking restrictions to allow parking at any time. These are in areas where bus movement will not be affected.
• The introduction of formal parking partly on the footway where there is insufficient width to allow parking completely on the road. These areas will be clearly marked and signs erected to show that part-footway parking is permitted. There will still be sufficient width for pedestrians, including those with wheelchairs or pushchairs, to use the footway as before.
• Because of the necessity to ensure that the new parking restrictions are complied with, and given that overall there is an increase of unlimited parking, it has been agreed with Shepway District Council that enforcement of the double yellow lined areas will be enforced more rigorously than may previously have been the case.

"This information is being provided to raise awareness of the proposed improvements. We would like to hear from you should you wish to support these proposals or if you have any related concerns or points that you feel are appropriate to be considered as part of the progression of this scheme."

Please e-mail t&d.dover.shepway@kent.gov.uk no later than Friday 31st July 2009 for your views to be registered.

Following on from this, the detailed design and advertising of the legal Traffic Orders for the parking changes will be progressed taking into consideration the feedback from this consultation, and construction will take place during the 2009/10 financial year.

For further information please call Kent Highway Services on our 24hr helpline 0845 824 7800, quoting Kent Road, Cheriton.

Related Links

• Kent Road Parking Consultation leaflet July 2009