Craig voices “horror” at County Council pilot in Broadstairs

Craig Mackinlay MP has strongly criticised a new 18 month ‘pilot’ in Albion Street, Broadstairs, which cuts the High Street from Harbour Street for no discernible purpose.

The scheme, under the government’s nationwide £250m Emergency Active Travel scheme, is set to be up and running from Friday 25th September despite strong opposition locally led by the South Thanet MP.

It includes a bus gate in Albion Street between the junctions of Alexandra Road and Harbour Street. The closed zone will operate from 10am to 10pm each day, except for use by buses, cycles, licensed taxis and for access. Three disabled bays outside the Albion Hotel have also been removed.

Craig Mackinlay MP commented:

CM at Albion Street Broadstairs – Sept 20

“I am in horror at what is proposed.  There has been no consultation, nor any thought as to how this will impact on businesses. Nobody I have spoken to wants this.

“This trial affects businesses at the Harbour Street end worried that sat-nav in particular will not facilitate visitors in finding them, or parking at Broadstairs Harbour and Albion Street car parks unless one has a good knowledge of local ‘rat-runs’. Those living on Carlton Avenue, Lindenthorpe Road, Crow Hill and Nelson Place will suffer increased traffic as the only realistic route for those seeking legitimate access to the Harbour Street end of Broadstairs.”

“Whilst I could accept a rational argument that a trial total closure during the peak of the Summer season may have had validity, particularly to facilitate tables, chairs etc., the scheme that KCC proposes now Autumn is with us allowing through buses, taxis, deliveries and access but disallowing a through route to the general public, achieves little to nothing. I cannot see that this scheme makes walking or cycling any more desirable or is facilitated in any way. It is obvious that pedestrians will always prefer to use The Parade overlooking Viking Bay as they always have. We seem to be being used as an ill-thought out trial so that KCC can access a further £6m in second-tranche government funding. If the Broadstairs trial offers any sense of KCC’s thinking, further plans will likely be used to further frustrate High Street access and increase traffic congestion in other parts of Kent.

“I want these works stopped immediately.  Unfortunately KCC will have the final say on this, but I have left senior Highways officers in no doubt of my views.”

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