Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Confusion over road changes designed to keep people apart
Traders say measures to encourage ‘active travel’ having negative impact
A raft of changes introduced to a city centre road have left many people scratching their heads. Pavements have been widened and a junction closed in St Dunstan’s Street, Canterbury, to encourage walking and cycling. But the measures have been met with confusion and concern, with business owners unable to make drop-offs, and residents mistaking the revamped stretch for a new cycling lane. The changes aim to provide a “safer and friendlier shopping, eating and drinking experience for pedestrians” in the wake of the pandemic, and encourage “active travel” between Canterbury West and the city centre. On the Café des Amis side of St Dunstan’s, the pavement has been temporarily widened for pedestrians, in hope of making social distancing easier. Meanwhile the exit from Kirby’s Lane - a rat run that lies parallel to Station Road West - to St Dunstan’s Street has also been closed off to traffic, to make the junction safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
But some traders say they are having a negative impact. Andrea Hopwood, who owns Curtain Call in St Dunstan’s Street, was shocked to arrive at work on Friday to find bollards outside her shop.
She previously parked outside her store briefly when dropping off heavy items.
“I admit I’m not supposed to as there were double yellow lines there, but it would be a very short period of time,” she said. “I quite often take stuff home - big heavy sets of curtains. I physically can’t carry them from my car. I have an ongoing neck and back problem. “I would normally just quickly stop there. Now I can’t do that.” The county council introduced the measures after it was awarded £1.6 million from the Department for Transport’s “emergency active travel fund”. It was required to spend its initial grant within eight weeks to
gain access to more than £8 million for further schemes. “It’s spending money unnecessarily when it wasn’t needed,” added Ms Hopwood. “There’s other things they could have done with it. The pavements are wide enough for people to social distance.”
Sedat Ozdogan, owner of nearby Westgate Dry Cleaners, shares Ms Hopwood’s concerns. “Nobody’s happy about it,” he
said. “There’s no space to stop. “Business is quiet as it is. It’s made it very difficult. They could have spent this money somewhere else.”
Many residents have taken to Facebook to express concern about the alterations. Harry Macdonald said: “These roads are the main access to a busy station. It will just take one delivery van and a bus and the whole area will be jammed.” But others have praised the changes, with Paul Prentice saying: “These bollards are a great idea and will calm everything down along this stretch of road.” The measures will run for up to 18 months, but may be made permanent if well-received. A KCC spokesman said: “We appreciate that some schemes being put in across the county will not satisfy everyone, but the government has asked all local authorities to inspire more cycling and walking.” To comment on the trial, email activetravelfund@kent.gov.uk.