Kentish Express Ashford & District
Hope for improvements at accident blackspot
£2.8m funding bid as road named one of Britain’s most dangerous
A major route outside Ashford is in line for a multimillionpound improvement after being included on a list of the country’s most dangerous roads.
The A252, which links Charing and Chilham, is considered an accident blackspot and features among Britain’s top 50 most dangerous routes.
Bosses at Kent County Council have now applied to the Department for Transport (DfT) for funding after the government invited proposals from highway authorities to improve A-roads.
The road has been the scene of numerous accidents in recent years, including a crash that killed Chilham parish councillor Paul Hardisty near Dane Street in March.
The DfT has allocated £175 million to upgrade roads across the country where the risk of fatal and serious collisions is highest, based on a report by the Road Safety Foundation.
KCC bosses will find out before Christmas if their bid for £2.8 million to spend on the A252 has been given the green light.
Chilham parish council chairman Paul Lulham is backing the campaign for improvements.
He said: “We are well aware it is one of the least safe roads in Kent and that there have been a number of fatalities, including our own parish councillor, Paul.
“It is a shame the chance for funding has come about following a number of accidents, but I hope KCC’s bid will be successful and we can help get it.
“It is something we are all concerned about and have been pushing KCC for a long time to improve the safety of the road.”
Landlady Nicola Dennis, who has owned the Halfway House in Challock for four years, said she would welcome the improve- ments. She said: “Something does need to be done to the road.
“People just seem to think they can speed and not get caught – and because it is a rural road you see lots of people trying to overtake farm vehicles, which causes accidents. We see lots of issues at the roundabout with the A251 as well, but I think if a lot of speed cameras were dotted around the road, that would help.”