Ignoring congestion ‘is not an option’
WHEN central government and the local highways authority have nomoney to build more roads we have to look at new ways of tackling congestion. Encouraging a shift to public transport is the single option that would have the biggest impact. However, this can only come about by making it more reliable and more frequent; the way to do that is to provide infrastruc- ture, such as the bus lane. In addition, the more people who use public transport, the lower the relative cost will become. All the tests undertaken prior to this de-
cision show an improvement in the time it takes for the bus to get to town, with mini- mal time delay for the average motorist at peak times. We considered junction im- provements, and whilst there will be im- provements to junctions along this route, none of them have the same positive impact as the bus lane. It is important to note also that the bus lane is not being financed by public money, but by the various develop- ments themselves. What is not an option is to sit back, like previous councils, and do nothing; the re- sults of this approach are there for all to see. Maidstone has for too long lacked a positive and “can-do” approach to transport, and has never had any coherent plan; this coun-
Maidstone Council leader Chris Garland gives his opinion on the Loose Road bus lane plan that has angered residents
cil is determined to be positive and pro-ac- tive in tackling congestion to improve Maidstone.
We have listened to what people have
said and some have come up with improve- ments to the original scheme and we are consideringmaking the bus lane also a lane for cars with more than one passenger. Many others have simply said no and done nothing on public transport, when there is no money about for major road schemes. This would be taking the same route as previous councils,which leads to greater congestion.
Supporting part of plan ‘makes no sense’ Continued from page one
from the politicians. Ultimately, the deci- sion will come down to whether or not KCC grants the relevant traffic orders.” It has been estimated that a bus lane, which could cost £5-6m, would save buses 2.6 minutes from Wallis Avenue to the Wheatsheaf and just 1.2 minutes from the Wheatsheaf to Armstrong Road, while car journeys would increase by 35 seconds. Loose Cllr Sue Grigg said: “It seems a bit
late in the day for the leader to suddenly announce this, when he has had six months to speak out against the Loose Road bus lane. “Itmakes no sense to support one section
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Comment raises questions Dear Sir – I read with some interest your ar- ticle on the proposed new bus lane in Loose Road and also Chris Garland’s comments on the same, which for me raised a number of questions. Mr Garland talks about making public transport “more reliable and more fre- quent”. Am I to understand he has secured an undertaking from the bus companies that they will be placing more buses on the routes? He also says that “the more people use public transport, the lower the relative cost will become”. If indeed a discussion has taken place with the bus companies, has he secured those assurances that bus fares will lower upon delivery of additional passen- gers? He talks about “encouraging a shift to public transport”, but surely if car journeys are increased by a mere 25 seconds, this hardly constitutes an encouragement? Mr Garland makes the point that “to sit back, like previous councils and do noth- ing” is not an option, but surely change for change’s sake is also not an option? Has anyone considered the effect that drivers will have when they seek alternative routes such as Cripple Street to avoid the congestion that will inevitably be caused? Finally, if the net effect of all of this dis- ruption is to lessen bus journeys by two minutes and increase car journeys by 25 seconds, why on earth is anyone bothering
and not the other. What is the point speed- ing the buses along the Sutton Road only to get snarled up when they get to the Wheat- sheaf? We want to see a holistic approach to the whole traffic issue in Loose.” A spokesman for NLRA said: “We find it incredible – no matter what the ‘experts’ say – that we are seeing ever increasing traffic volumes, and yet the proposal is to reduce road space by 50% to allow a bus every seven minutes to have a faster jour- ney.” The North Loose Residents’ Association, which has more than 1,100 members, says its own traffic surveys have been ignored, and the bus lane proposals for south Maid- stone are being “steamrollered” through.
You can write to us at: Downs Mail, Forge House, Bearsted Green Business Park, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4DT or e-mail:
stephen@downsmail.co.uk
to implement this project? Whether it is paid for from the public purse or private in- vestment, it seems to me to be a complete waste of time. Steve Diprose, Dean Street, East Farleigh
Put the brakes on bus lane Dear Sir – I think the proposal of extending a bus lane from theWheatsheaf Pub to Arm- strong Road is another madcap scheme sim- ilar to the road calming in Coxheath. I use this road, like many others, on a reg-
ular basis and already the road is gridlocked due to the introduction of the traffic lights at the junction of Cripple Street and Boughton Lane. I understand that council leader Chris Garland suggests that this is one way to get the public to use public transport more! I suggest he tries the buses from Staplehurst, which on many occasions do not even turn up. I hope the North Loose Residents’ Associ-
ation gets its way and has this stupid idea reversed.
F. Livermore, by email
Council wrong on bus lane Dear Sir – I write while my family members are seething about the complete ignorance of the council to even consider extending the Sutton Road bus lane. When will the council realise that allow-
ing a restricted access lane will cause more delays? We are already seeing bollards with no
Pupils sniff out Red Nose Day fun
SCHOOLS in the Future Schools Trust entered the spirit of Red Nose Day, raising more than £1,500 for Comic Relief. CornwallisAcademy,NewLine Learning, TigerPrimary and Little Learners
Nurserywore red, baked cakes and played games – all for charity. It was the first Red Nose Day for Tiger Primary School, where pupils held
their own bake-off. Headteacher Emma Bryant tasted all the entries and crowned parent Emma Knight the winner. The primary pupils, aged from four to seven, also created a giant tiger’s facewith the coins they collected. Other activities at the secondary academies included music perform- ances as well as cake sales at lunch and break times.
18 East
workmen en route, which causes delays in the school holidays, so there’s no chance that it will only add 20 seconds to a journey as stated. I do wish I could get paid for incensing residents ofMaidstone, whilst doing stupid things and not delivering a service to the community. Real businessmen need to run the coun-
cil not the idiots we seem to have. Julie Anderson, Loose Valley
School will add to traffic Dear Sir – I expect you have had many re- sponses to the bus lane proposal. I, too, have concerns, as driving down Sutton Road at peak time is very congested. I expect the tailbacks along the Sutton Road may even reach the police headquarters. The proposed new school at Boughton
Lane will add further to the large number of vehicle movements at the signal junction, which already suffers long delays, espe- cially if the pedestrian phase is used, frus- trating all drivers. If the plan does get the go-ahead, the only
way, in my opinion, that this could have a positive impact on deterring car drivers from driving into Maidstone toworkwill be if a sensibly sized and efficient park and ride scheme is available. I read that bus stops are not ideally placed for people going to work in the town, so perhaps a review there may assist.
Robert Hudleston, by email
These pupils dressed in red to raise money on Red Nose Day To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
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