Agenda item

To consider the attached report of the Head of Transportation, Kent County Council.

The Project Engineer (PE) introduced the report which outlined proposed highway improvements to South Street.  These would be funded by a specific allocation made by Government which could not be used elsewhere.  KCC Highways had worked with Deal Town Council on the improvements.  Public consultation, including an exhibition, had taken place between 16 July and 14 August 2015, in response to which 118 objections had been received, including from Deal Town Council.    Section 2 of the report summarised the various points raised during consultation.  As a result of the concerns raised, Officers were proposing to make amendments to the original scheme and to take the amended scheme out for further public consultation. 

The principal point arising from the consultation had been the change in traffic flow which would be reviewed as part of the amended scheme.   The key objective for KCC was to ensure that the scheme caused no detriment to local businesses.  The public’s concerns about Middle Street being used as a ‘rat run’ could be addressed by reversing the one-way directional flow of traffic.   Other concerns related to the location of taxi bays, bus-stops, increased pedestrian movements and the safety of pedestrians and other road users.  In particular, Officers were keen to address issues surrounding buses double parking and pedestrians crossing through moving traffic and between parked cars.   

Councillor E D Rowbotham emphasised that the needs of the elderly and schoolchildren should be taken into account.  This was an opportunity to improve safety and make improvements to the appearance of South Street, the latter potentially with funding from Deal Town Council.   Councillor Eddy supported the amended scheme set out at Appendix B of the report.  Consultation should be undertaken with businesses, Stagecoach, local residents, taxi and bus users/drivers.  He suggested that Deal Town Council be approached to establish what funding it could provide for environmental improvements to the area. 

Mr B W Bano stressed that the needs of bus users should be prioritised, as was improving the bus shelter.  A scheme was needed which would allow bus users, particularly the disabled and those with prams, to get on and off buses safely.  Councillor Bond praised KCC for the work it had done and the level of consultation.  South Street was a confined space which needed tidying up. To achieve this it might be necessary to consider relocating some facilities, such as taxis and coaches.   Councillor Collor added that public safety should be a priority, and pointed out that some dropped kerbs did not appear in the revised plan.  

In response to Councillor Carter, who questioned why the scheme was going ahead given traffic problems elsewhere in Deal, the PE undertook to check on South Street’s accident/fatality record and where the scheme ranked in priority.   In respect of Sondes Road, it was clarified that it was intended to install ‘no stopping’ and ‘no loading’ ‘blips’ on its junction with Victoria Road in order to ensure that there was clear access for buses which were regularly obstructed by cars parked illegally.  In response to a point raised by Councillor Bond, the PE advised that he would be addressing the issue of lorries reversing into the High Street which was an illegal manoeuvre.

RESOLVED:   (a)   That it be recommended that, following the substantial objections

                               received in response to the consultation on the initial designs, the

                               initial designs should not be proceeded with.  

                        (b)  That it be recommended that further consultation be undertaken

                               on the alternative plans set out at Appendix B of the report.

(c)  That it be noted that Kent County Council will work closely with 

      local businesses (including taxi companies) to firm up proposals prior to consultation, as a result of which the design of the scheme may alter further.