Call for north access to the west station

The general election may suggest that politics is about disagreement.

A reminder of the benefit of cross-party consensus came at last week’s joint transportation board meeting.

A city council officer had written a report proposing that no further action be taken regarding the long-standing ambition to open up an alternative access to Canterbury West Station, from Roper Road.

The reason given was that Network Rail, the landowner, wishes to sell the former railway oil depot site in Roper Road to a housing developer, and not to the council.

Huge thanks are due to county councillor Graham Gibbens (Con, Canterbury City North) who led the charge against this defeatist strategy, pointing out that it was reckless to allow the land to be sold without seeking to keep it for the future.

He was ably supported by city councillors Jean Butcher (Lab, Northgate) and Nick Eden-green (Lib Dem, Wincheap) who pointed out that the report actually said nothing about the second access whatsoever. And city councillor David Hirst (Ukip, Greenhill), who submitted a speech urging that greater efforts be made.

Thus the officer was directed to pursue every avenue to secure the land for access to the station.

Network Rail is currently consulting the public on its Kent Area Route Study. This proposes enhancements to facilities at other stations, but not Canterbury West.

I would ask your readers to respond to this consultation, specifically asking for all railway-owned land in Roper Road to be retained and used to create a second access to Canterbury West from the north.

This would relieve the huge pressure on the existing sole station access in Station Road West, provide more direct access from the University of Kent and areas to the north and west, and reduce the queueing at the level crossing to/from the station.

Readers can email the consultation at Kentroutestudy@networkrail.co.uk before June 30. Jeremy Baker Fir Tree Close, Rough Common