Kentish Express Ashford & District
No history of serious crashes
Colin Evans, project & communications officer at Kent and Medway Safety Camera Partnership said: “Camera enforcement is only conducted where there is evidence of excess speed and a history of speed related fatal or serious injury crashes.
“As there have been no fatal or serious injury crashes on that section of Chart Road for over a decade it is clear that the criteria for camera enforcement are not met, however I would urge local residents to consider forming a Community Speedwatch Group to help moderate driver behaviour in their area.” An Ashford dad is calling for speed cameras on a busy stretch of road after he and his youngest son had a near miss.
Father of four Mark Butcher, 41, was dropping off his son Joshua, seven, at St Mary’s Primary School for the day when they were nearly hit by a car.
The incident happened on the morning of Monday, November 21, on Chart Road.
Mr Butcher said: “A driver roared off from the traffic lights on the wet roads and proceeded to lose control, weaving across both lanes towards us.
“The inept driver had lost complete control of the vehicle on the wet roads and very nearly mounted the kerb.”
Although Mr Butcher was not able to get the car registration, he believes it was a Mazda MX-5.
He added: “He gained control close to me thankfully, but then roared off down the road without a care.
“There would have been witnesses. Other drivers who he weaved in front of and parents standing at the lights.”
Mr Butcher, who lives on the Repton Park estate, hopes the incident will raise awareness of health and safety issues on the road.
He said: “For over 10 years now we have been doing that same school walk from our house.
“Chart Road, a road where hundreds of kids walk by and across every day, has no speed cameras or speed bumps.
“The cars there treat the two lane portion near the vets as a racetrack.
“On several occasions I have witnessed cars going through red lights further down where children are being told by the pedestrian crossing lights that it is safe to cross.
“I feel that speed cameras should be on this stretch as it is only a matter of time before there is an accident involving a child.”
What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk