Bus lane will take parking spots

Residents are angry, but KCC says £700k scheme would tackle extra traffic

Parking spaces lining Sturry Road could be ripped up as part of plans to install a new bus lane.

Details of the £700,000 project were released this week by Kent County Council, which claims the extra lane will tackle an expected increase in traffic using the road.

But the loss of parking has angered local residents, with one mum claiming she will consider moving if the plans go ahead.

Sasha Hayes, 31, has lived in the road for 18 months and fears the loss of her parking space will put her child in danger.

“I have a toddler and park outside, but if this is gone what do I do?” she said.

“I will have to park in another street, without a permit and no chance of a space.

“I wouldn’t want to live this way – we need to have somewhere outside. If it gets too bad, we would move.”

The new bus lane would run between the Vauxhall Road roundabout and South Street, with those living opposite the Esso petrol station most affected by the loss of parking.

But KCC says the expansion works are necessary to offset more traffic entering the city from new housing developments in Sturry, Hersden and Herne Bay.

The road will also be widened where possible, meaning the removal of several verges and trees.

Although all trees will be replanted, there is no bargaining chip for those set to lose parking, with KCC admitting the plans “won’t suit everyone”.

Its cabinet member for transport Matthew Balfour said: “We want to make bus travel as quick and reliable as possible to encourage more people to use public transport – at least for the final leg of their journey into Canterbury.

“This section will fill in a missing link in the bus lane along Sturry Road and it is important to avoid a bottleneck, par- ticularly as a Sturry link road is proposed.

“Unfortunately, due to the amount of room along Sturry Road, there is no other way to fit a bus lane in, so the choice is whether we go ahead with it or not.

“I appreciate this scheme will not suit everyone so I would encourage as many people as possible – locals, as well as those who use this route regularly – to take part in the consultation.”

The results will be reported to the Canterbury Joint Transportation Board in November, which will consider whether the project should go ahead.

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

A new bus lane has been proposed for Sturry Road, in place of roadside parking places