Councillor Call for Royal Military Avenue Safety Review

12.53.51pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 9th Jul 2010

Cheriton Councillor Tim Prater has asked Kent Highways to review the traffic calming measures in Royal Military Avenue, Cheriton after a number of local residents raised concerns with the scheme.

Residents contacted Tim after a number of incidents where motorists were driving the wrong side of the new central reservation islands and endangering other road users and pedestrians.

Lib Dem Councillor Tim Prater said:

"There were long negotiations on the scheme to be installed in Royal Military Avenue, and in my view, Kent Highways then decided to install the wrong one.

"After a great deal of lobbying by myself and other Councillors, Kent Highways agreed some months to consult on an echelon (nose in to kerb) parking scheme as requested by residents.

"Despite that option receiving the support of more residents than any other scheme in the consultation, when it came to the decision making Joint Transport Board meeting, the officers then recommended against echelon parking and, although I voted for the echelon scheme that had received most backing from residents, every other member (all Conservative Councillors) voted for the scheme that involved reducing parking in the road and putting white lines up the middle which has now been installed.

"As anticipated by local residents, the installed scheme seems to be making the road more, rather than less, dangerous to users."

Kent Highways have responded to Cllr Prater saying that an independent post completion Safety Audit will now be carried out in Royal Military Avenue, which will take about 3 - 4 weeks to complete, after which they will discuss the results.