Bus lane restrictions ‘ ridiculous’
Angry residents have hit out at a council's traffic restrictions which have left many frustrated as they struggle to find somewhere to park.
Traffic is restricted in both directions along Mount Pleasant Road, Tunbridge Wells, between its junctions with Monson Road and Church and Crescent Roads, from 9am to 6pm every day when it can only be used by buses and taxis. On February 20, CCTV enforcement was introduced to issue warnings to any unauthorised vehicles passing through the restriction, and from March 20, offenders began to get hit with a £70 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
People living in the area, particularly in adjoining Dudley Road, say the system is "utterly ridiculous".
Dudley Road is one-way, with no left turns allowed upon exit, meaning all road users have to turn right onto Mount Pleasant Road. From there, they must turn immediately left onto Monson Road to avoid being hit with the hefty charge.
Rather than the short distance along the restricted road,
residents now have to drive along Monson Road, before turning onto Calverley Road, and then going around a roundabout onto Crescent Road, adding an extra half mile to their route and hitting traffic lights and a roundabout. To add to the frustration, residents of Dudley Road say they are often unable to find a parking spot first time around, due to the high number of people with permits parking there. One such resident, Isobel
Lowe, said: "It's completely absurd that I should have to go all around Monson Road, especially when trying to find somewhere to park.
“I have to come to that point to leave Tunbridge Wells. It seems utterly ridiculous when I just have to nip to the crossroads from Dudley Road.
"I've added miles to my trip just trying to park. It's madness as it's supposedly to decrease congestion.
"To go all the way around I
would add half a mile to my journey every time, which would not only cost time but fuel.
“I know it's not much but it'll add up and for the sake of being on Mount Pleasant for less than half a minute it seems totally stupid.
"Not only that, but the parking is so rubbish for residents, that I often have to go around two or three times to find a space.”
Isobel received a PCN for
using the road during restricted hours while making a oneoff emergency trip to her office on a Saturday.
Another driver, who does not live on the road, but does park there, said: "I am so disgusted. “When you enter Dudley Road there is no signage to prewarn of this. Only when you get on the road and then you’ve already pulled out into the restricted area."
Cllr Nicholas Pope (Tunbridge Wells Alliance), who represents Park ward which covers the restricted area, acknowledged the idea had not been executed well enough. He explained: “One of the problems is that it is actually more dangerous for pedestrians with this redesign.
"I think there are missing visual prompts that are needed regarding people knowing they are entering an area with traffic restrictions – that needs to be changed.
“There is a traffic island that has been lost, so cars drive through and don’t pay attention sometimes to pedestrians halfway across the road. A Tunbridge Wells Borough Council spokesman said the authority had sent out 400 letters to residents and businesses explaining the scheme. He added: "Following a period of sending warning letters we are now issuing PCNs to motorists who contravene the restriction. We do have a sympathetic appeals system if anyone feels they have been wrongly issued with a PCN.”
Local elections take place on Thursday, May 4. Standing in Park ward are: Christian Atwood (Con), Alasdair Fraser (Grn), Jules Luxford (Lib Dem), Siobhan O'Connell (T Wells Alliance), Sue Pound (Lab)