Fiery outbursts at towers traffic scheme meeting

RENEWED calls to scrap the Westgate Towers traffic scheme were issued before next month’s consultation finishes after claims it was “killing” city centre businesses.

Campaigners, traders and residents made several outbursts during a discussion on the scheme at the Canterbury Area Panel Member group on Monday.

The consultation is due to finish on October 15, before councillors decide whether to introduce the changes permanently.

During the fiery meeting, hotelier Sandie de Rougemont, from the House of Agnes guest house, stormed out, saying: “You are killing my business”.

Speaking afterwards she said she estimated she was losing £1,300 a week and had completely lost her wedding room service for newlyweds staying in Canterbury.

She said: “I’m looking at my figures for August and I’m down £22,000. I’m going to have to lay off staff and cut down the hours of others. So many people are having their lives destroyed.”

Campaigner Brian Buggins said more than 100 traders had signed his petition to get rid of the scheme, claiming their views had been ignored.

After the meeting he said: “It was a refreshing change to have councillors actually listen to us. We felt vindicated that the shortcomings were recorded.

“The whole thing is an absolute mess.”

Cllr Alex Perkins (Lib Dem) criticised the consultation, claiming the questionnaire was pre-weighted to generate favourable responses.

He also bemoaned the council’s enforcement of motorists flouting the new regulations after it emerged nine penalty notices were issued last month.

He questioned the level of enforcement after a Canterbury city council traffic warden noted 25 abuses in just one hour.

He added: “We need proper enforcement to be carried out to prevent this woeful and abysmal record.”

No councillors spoke in favour of the scheme.

The council’s transport manager Richard Moore said they could look to install CCTV cameras to improve enforcement.

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