Friday, April 18, 2008

Broadstairs Can Only Go One Way

Not content with making their teeny-tiny roads ever narrower, the Dickensians now look set to introduce more bottlenecks in Boredstares. According to the BBC News website, the latest plans from Kent Highways include speed cushions, pedestrian crossings and a one-way system in the lower High Street.

Why not go the whole hog and bypass the town entirely? I'm sure they could build a new road through Stalag Culmers Land at very little cost, apart from a few veggies and, of course, the newly installed TDC palisade fencing. That way the old codgers and Crouch Enders could enjoy their seaside idyll in peace!

Click here for full story on BBC News website

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

If you get off the bus by the bank in Broadstairs and then try and cross the road to walk down towards the sea it is almost impossible to cross safely. Surely traffic lights would be the easiest option?

Peter C said...

I agree that Broadstairs high street needs to be more pedestrian friendly, though one thing that puzzles me about the town is that it's (slightly) closer to Westwood Cross than either Margate or Ramsgate yet it seems to be thriving! So they must be doing something right.

Anonymous said...

Small local shops (filling the niche market TDC seems so keen on)but the sharp rise in parking will put a damper on things. TESCO is a 'basket store' for those odds and ends you forgot to buy in the bigger shop. Probably a higher concentration of older folk who want to shop locally. Quainter town centre; fewer chavs; always had a reputation of being 'classier'; more 'old money'. Beyond that, I can't think of a good reason why it might appear to be doing better. Town Council has little real power so that can't be a factor.

Anonymous said...

Judging by the high number of busineses that have closed/ changed hands/ or are for sale in Broadstairs, things are not good. With regard to traffic calmimg, KCC'S first attempt is not a success. Broadstairs needs to be more redestrian friendly, streets like Victoria Parade would safer if the traffic was restricted. Presumably the plans will only be approved if there is no loss of parking revenue to the Council, which sadly limits the options.

Anonymous said...

The traffic calming measures installed last year have been a failure, and this would appear to be a face saving exercise by our Councils. One of Kcc's plans will send half the traffic down Charlotte and Victoria Parade via John St. These St's can't cope with the traffic now, and are also highly used by pedestrians, all the additional traffic will increase the danger for pedestrians. So it just shows the planners do not know the actual situation on our local roads.Our local councils just rubber stamp the final KCC plan. Why are the public only given to May 2nd to submit their views, it seems someone has already made the a decision, and as usual public consultation is just part of the process and is totally ignored??

Mr Dickens of Broadstairs said...

Albion street should become completely pedestrian only. first of all by having monthly market days down the street, french market, antique, organic etc with some live music in the little park by Albion street bookshop.

When the folk festival is on and the streets are closed you actually look in the shop windows rather around to see if your kids are going to be run over. If the market days work they would bring people to day trip to Thanet,( as there is no longer any accomodation to stay in anyway) and might revitalise the High Street . The past is not coming back with seaside B&Bs all closing and forget about Dreamland life has moved on .