Councillors consult on new 20mph area

Labour councillors in Seasalter and Gorrell are combining forces to ask local residents if they want to see a 20mph area on Joy Lane, Canterbury Road and Borstal Hill. The area is near a large primary school and has had a number of serious crashes over the last five years.

The councillors have launched a survey that residents across town can complete online at www.whitstable20.co.uk.

“Road measures introduced by the previous Conservative councillors to prevent parking around the school have arguably made Joy Lane a faster and more dangerous road” said Cllr Naomi Smith, “the long stretch from the railway line particular encourages drivers to speed up going into a complicated T-junction where accidents are common and have been fatal”.

Following a fatal crash back in 2021 Labour Gorrell Councillor Cllr Chris Cornell lobbied KCC to improve the junction only to be told that the average speed recorded of 27 mph was within limits and Conservative Kent County Councillor Mark Dance didn’t favour a change. Since 2021 Community Speedwatch groups have started recording data on both Borstal Hill and Joy Lane on the school run and Cllr Dance has admitted speed limits in the area are problematic. This could be the time to change minds and get a safe town centre.

Cllr Charlotte Cornell said “It is important that we establish public support for any changes we propose, before lobbying for a change at Kent County Council. We are brand new in as your Labour Seasalter councillors and lots of you have been telling us how problematic the speed of traffic is in this area. We are listening and we are taking action.”

Click here to complete the survey.