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A campaign could be imminent for traffic calming and to move a 'nuisance' car at Dover Road, Walmer, Deal

Advice on how to get traffic-slowing road improvements on the A258 at Walmer has been issued by KCC after a crash involving a bus and 26 school children that sparked huge delays.

A decision on making improvements could be days away if residents make their cases known in a letter -writing campaign.

Last week the Mercury wrote about a social media dispute about whether a parked MG car should be removed from the Dover Road at Upper Walmer.

Motorists feel traffic calming is needed at Dover Road, on the entrance to Walmer
Motorists feel traffic calming is needed at Dover Road, on the entrance to Walmer

It is believed the car is parked deliberately in the 30mph zone to slow Deal-bound traffic. Some motorists feel it is an obstruction and some blamed it for causing the accident between a Bayliss Executive Travel coach and a VW Passat on Thursday, January 15.

The popularity of the debate prompted the Mercury to ask KCC whether speed reduction measures should be made.

"Decision will be made within 20 days," - KCC's David Hall, said the correct steps need to be followed to get improvements

David Hall, deputy director of highways and transportation at Kent County Council, said: “In terms of requests for changes to the road, we have to make tough decisions on where to improve traffic and road safety in local areas.

"This means we have to say ‘no’ more than we’d like, especially if the request won’t reduce casualties. We look at the sites most in need of improvement first, which have got the support of the whole community.”

KCC is willing to consider traffic calming measures but residents must go through the correct channels, he said.

The First Step: checking the crash history of the site by visiting www.crashmap.co.uk to see if any crashes in the last three years have resulted in personal injury.

The Mercury has found that just three were reported in the years 2012 and 2013. The statistics are not available for 2014 to present.

The second step: If so, supporters of traffic calming need to write to parish district or county councillors and ask them to fight the case.

The third step: If there is enough support, the councillor can put the case to KCC Highways.

A decision will be made by KCC Highways in 20 working days.

Mr Hall added: “Once we’ve identified, assessed and agreed what to do, we’ll seek funding from various sources, such as the county or parish council.

This can take some time. We then report the scheme to the local district Joint Transportation Board.”

  • Cllr Mike Eddy (KCC) who lives in Walmer, said he is happy to present a petition or individual letters to KCC.

Please write to him, outlining your concerns and suggestions if you have any, to Cllr Mike Eddy, KCC, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone, ME14 1XQ

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