Whitstable's tourism is booming and the current traffic-flow system, designed for Victorian carts & horses, just can't cope. This non-political, community-led group campaigns for a sustainable traffic management system that has safety and posterity in mind; we want to make our town a safer one for everyone and a more pleasant experiences for all our many, welcome, visitors. We firmly believe that this is not an issue over which councillors can just bury their heads in the sand. It is embarrassing that this issue - discussed for over 45 years - has not been actioned. Whitstable's tourist footfall has increased over 300% in the last five years and our councillors have not acted. Children, dogs and often adults just stray in front of cars because the sheer amount of people on the pavements is too many. The pavements are too narrow for some wheelchairs and prams; when scaffolding is put up (as it often is, to repaint the beautiful, heritage buildings), then prams and wheelchairs are forced on the roads. We - at 1Way4Whit are not content with sitting waiting for an accident to happen before we call for action; we call for action now.
1Way4Whit knows that there are many difficulties with the introduction of a one-way system & whilst we primarily believe for this to be, certainly in the long term, the ultimate goal for the future safety, beauty and charm of the town to be retained, we are open to other suggestions. We believe all obstacles are surmountable; we want to building a Whitstable that our children can be proud.
1Way4Whit calls for a non-partisan investigation to be run into the viability of a strong and sustainable one-way system, which takes into account the impact on Cromwell Road - a viable one-way system will HAVE to address this issue. We also want KCC to act immediately. We also call for immediate action on the mis-use of parking in the High Street & believe that the viability of removing or severely restricting loading bay hours in the High Street should be investigated. We think there could be merits in the idea of a Park and Ride with shuttle bus system - this too deserves further exploration.
1Way4Whit also calls for a public meeting, chaired by an academic or media organisation to let all parties and ideas be exchanged in a fruitful, collaborative and fowards-thinking way. We call on our councillors to listen to this community group and to take on-board the suggestions presented. We call on both Canterbury City Council and Kent County Council to act now.
