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‘Slow down drivers with speed traps’ says Mayor of Swale

Pat Sandle outside Eastchurch school's St Clements site
Pat Sandle outside Eastchurch school's St Clements site

The Mayor of Swale is calling for a police crackdown against dangerous driving along one of the Island’s main routes.

Cllr Pat Sandle travels the Lower Road often and is worried there will be a serious accident along there.

She says the problem stretches all the way from the Thistle Hill roundabout, through Jenkins Hill and right into Leysdown.

The road has seen many accidents over the years and was improved in 2008 as part of a £227,000 package for the whole of the A2500 Lower Road between Cowstead Corner and Leysdown.

But Cllr Sandle said there had long been a problem with drivers going far too fast and overtaking without being able to see what is coming the other way.

She also says she has seen people go the wrong way round the roundabout to get ahead and even though the road has parts that are 40mph and 60mph limits, these are regularly ignored.

“The other night an idiot over-took four cars in the dark,” Cllr Sandle said. “It never fails to amaze me the amount of people that overtake and I don’t know how some get away with it.

“I travel that road such a lot and see so much of it – it puts your heart in your mouth all the time.

“They don’t seem to have any fear or common sense about what’s going to happen and I can see it heading for an accident.

“There’s no need for them to go as fast as they do – we don’t need that on the Island and need to get something done about it.”

Island Neighbourhood Inspector Noel Stanley
Island Neighbourhood Inspector Noel Stanley

Cllr Sandle plans to raise the issue at the next Joint Transportation Board meeting and her suggestion is for the police to target the spot with their mobile speed traps.

“It’s the only thing that will slow people down – if they know there’s going to be a police presence there,” she added.

“I know they can’t be everywhere but they should target a few areas.”

Neighbourhood Inspector Noel Stanley says police will do some work around the issue and carry out enforcement checks.

He said: “We encourage people to report any instances of dangerous driving or speeding as it helps us build an informed picture of local issues and allows us to plan an appropriate response.”

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