Towers traffic trial complaint rejected

Exclusive

A complaint about Canterbury City Council’s handling of the doomed Westgate Towers traffic trial has been rejected by the local government watchdog,

In a decision to be published next month, the authority will be cleared of “lacking impartiality” over the issue of buses passing through the historic archway.

The ill-fated trial saw motorists – and, crucially, buses – rerouted around the historic towers rather than driving through them.

It was abandoned in 2013 after hundreds of complaints over gridlock in nearby streets.

After the plug was pulled, traffic flows were returned to their pre-trial state – though bus operator Stagecoach decided not to run its double- and single-deckers through the towers any more.

It said new regulations prevented buses with fixed wing mirrors from passing through the narrow gap.

Debbie Barwick, owner of Revivals vintage clothing store in St Peter’s Street, launched a formal complaint accusing the council of unduly influencing Stagecoach’s decision. Claiming a lack of buses in the Westgate area was hitting trade, she accused the council of seeking to influence Stagecoach to salvage its scheme.

The Local Government Ombudsman was asked to investigate whether the authority had “lacked impartiality” when consulting Stagecoach over access through the towers.

Ombudsman Miriam Plant’s probe hinged on a leaked email to Stagecoach bosses in late March 2013 when it looked possible that Kent County Council might pull the plug on the trial.

City council transport manager Richard Moore asked Stagecoach bosses for a letter highlighting forthcoming regulations relating to fixed wing mirrors on buses, asking the company to confirm it would not be able to keep running buses through the towers.

Ms Plant dismissed the complaint, with her decision due for publication next month.

It is thought her findings will show Stagecoach acted independently of any influence from Canterbury City Council and that the authority acted impartially.

Her report is expected to find no evidence the council failed to handle the trial process in line with procedure and no evidence to support the claim of secret discussions between the bus operator and the council.

Ms Barwick told the Gazette: “I’m obviously disappointed by the decision. We’ve always maintained that until you get buses back through the towers to the bottom end of the high street the traders in the area will suffer.”

A spokesman for the Ombudsman said she could not comment until the decision was published.

What do you think? Email kentishgazette@thekmgroup. co.uk or write to Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3SE.

Stagecoach decided not to run its double- and single-deckers through Westgate Towers after the ill-fated traffic trial

Debbie Barwick: ‘disappointed’