Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘This crossing is going to kill’
An angry councillor claims a pedestrian will “definitely” be killed unless a camera is installed to catch drivers jumping red lights.
Park Farm councillor Jim Wedgbury (Con) says he regularly sees motorists ignoring the signals at the pedestrian crossing on the A2070 near Sheepfold Lane in Kingsnorth. The Primrose Drive resident wants Highways England to fit a CCTV camera to the lights.
Cllr Wedgbury said: “A child, I am certain, will get killed if we do not get a camera put in to monitor the red lights.
“It is a constant problem and unless Highways England puts a safety camera there, a child or somebody will definitely be killed. Drivers can see these lights from over a mile away – there is no excuse for missing them.”
Cllr Wedgbury, who raised his concerns at a recent meeting of Ashford Borough Council’s joint transportation board, says many parents are too afraid to let their children use the crossing.
“When two cars stop, I have seen the car stopped behind them drive between them and through the red lights,” he added.
“People see the red lights but just drive straight through them.
“Because it is in the countryside, they think they can get away with it and make no attempt to stop.”
Cllr Wedgbury has written to Highways England about his concerns, as has the council.
“I have pointed out the danger – but it does take time to get these things sorted. If we had a red light camera, motorists would immediately take notice and stop when the lights change.”
A Highways England spokesman said: “Safety is our top priority and we work with organisations such as the Safety Camera Partnership to determine where traffic cameras, both speed cameras and for traffic lights, will be most effective.
“These decisions are based on safety reviews at specific locations so that cameras are installed where they can have the most significant benefit.
“Currently we have no plans to install safety cameras at the pedestrian crossing on the A2070 at Ashford. We will continue to monitor safety of the A2070 and other roads we manage.”