Decision follows tragedies on danger stretch Bus firms told not to use unmarked stop after two die

Bus drivers have been advised to no longer drop passengers off at an unmarked stop following the deaths of two pedestrians in nine months.

Kent County Council has issued the warning after a 74-year-old man from Canterbury was killed on the A28 in Chartham when he was hit by a Renault Clio earlier this month.

The tragedy came eight months after the death of student Christopher Innes, 21, who was struck by a van after getting off a bus at the notorious spot.

Regent Coaches, which operates along the stretch and regularly drops passengers off by the Mansfields fruit farm junction, has confirmed it is now abiding by the authority’s advice.

The firm is still picking up and dropping off customers on the city-bound side, but is not stopping on the Ashford-bound left side of the road.

The Gazette last week reported on calls for increased safety measures at the unmarked bus stop, as fearful residents drew heavy similarities with the death of Mr Innes last May.

Steve Pay, KCC’S planning and operations manager for public transport, said: “As a response to this further incident, as a precaution, KCC has advised bus operators that they are not to adopt Hail and Ride practice on this section of the A28.

“Bus services can be registered to operate on the basis of a hail and ride principle where opera- tors are free to pick up and set down passengers at any point along a line of route.

“This is common practice in Kent and across the UK. It has been used in this area for many years as a means of serving the local demand between marked bus stops located in Shalmsford Street and in Chartham.”

The dangers at the unmarked bus stop are there for all to see, with no official markings, pavement, barriers or signage being installed.

Commenting on the Canterbury Residents Group on Facebook, Sarah O’connell, who lives on the road, said: “At the unmarked bus stop there is no pavement. It is a muddy bank which falls down into the river and fields.

“There are no signs, no lights, no pavement, and straight into the 50mph A28. That in its self I think is pretty dangerous.

Philippa Ballerio added: “The whole of the A28 just seems like it isn’t fit for purpose any more. It’s one of the narrowest A-roads imaginable.”

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