4 £ 2 \o vv | ed Se : Police’c Sunday: Tele Young Libera a ca aby detect acks on juggermaut: t and NO blacked” 2 S, was claimed i mous teleph lers, wheealo mobilised? sised they were. independent grou port, aan Libera to. oh di One calle® said represent the Young — ut a number of members” of n had taken part Mr, the organisatio in the. attacks. 5 1013 ever exPeiss ponsi lity ari WEE [ “On, lorry attacks Is are +. about fh London it; When tyres and Windscreens ‘athe attacks a series of anony- e calls. The cal- ae Shave “im- ss empha: ing for an Pp acting in sup- paign: called by and other Young ernauts, © didnot ‘Liberals fic in Sep- be Ques- tries in VILLAGERS in week faced with the prospect of a new giant development on Hawkinge air- field with 11 sepa- rate applications for table. Many ‘see the appli- cations asa disguise fora TIR container terminal, and local councillors are concerned that even a: § the City Council’ The Deputy Town Clerk, Mr Keith Hunt, told members of the council’s original pro- posal to ban lorries over 10 tons or more than 26 feet long: from. the ‘city. % This had been put. to the Department of the Environ- ment, the Kent County Coun- cil and Kent Police who had all objected to the plan fory more or less the same rea- | sons. * sf The Department said the; A20 had considered as an alternative route but it already carried more vehicles than the A2, and had several sub-standard features which could not stand extra heavy traffic. ji . . rz SOSA eras of Bs gam oe eno Re HO sil es BP ey &. ESa ou G8 F851 ehaogae Be ae Seevasses. oS g2856 Sa55) TIR tert e, development on Hawkinge were this shorlage, ley e tnaccep- -and distribution facil- firm which has Hada the applications to Blham Council is Truck Inns Ltd. Last year they applied for permission to puild a: hypermarket and outline planning per: 7iR terminal but this was mission. turned down. M As ithe application \stands, the, development would be a shopping centre with supermarket, department store, shops, PLANS to ban “heavy Ree from a nee age | bury are to go ahead despite objections by the police, % i County Council and the Department of the Environment, i s. Public Works Committee decided: on ~ But Clir Mik i the, plans should not ‘be de- lay any longe: ‘ “The Ceres havea may well ' step in and p: faethe out, but we must ‘show the d ings about gause in many respects the A2 is so totally unsatis- factory. “Added “We cannot be concerned with what alternate routes ‘these vehicles take. We must protect ourselves.” ‘The committee decided to use its executive powers so that the proposals could be put into ‘possible. ‘| ordinated nationa storage and office ‘space ‘ ities. It would also mean 180 dwellings, a public house and a man-made lake with 50- waterside package to disguise flats. °° “4s Main | objective, a | ‘The plan alas Meee container terminal, 200-room hotel, lorry park © ghe saiq and distribution depot, set’ g76 needed in! in the downlands Of there are Bikces +t rr Folkestone, just outside couid pe developed ine S the village of Hawkinge. the» village rai : Although a decision producing a whole nj from the council could wn. take months, villagers are already angry at the thing as a “prettied ug. R. Hag; | ,Said that he will argue | f the. villager: ler said council chamber. ent us carry- . 7 th of our feel- his matter, be- Cllr Eric Hanscomb: operation as soon as \ At the risk of preaching to the converted, heavy road transport is an integral part in the manufacturing and dis- tribution in s. Con- tainers, swo »drawbar trailers handl- ing aids” make heavy road vehicles more effective. | This advantage musi allowed to be lost, ei submission: to th vironmental lobby’s h: or by overcompensatio! the transport industry Fefus- ing to accept that in¢ ertain areas, large numbers of heavy trucks do cause an un- desirable environmental in- trusion, $ Pas . ie und ame? for . thi: with the A policy fro ‘central govern- urope’s“foremost roll/on | roll/off ports without the es- ,| sential road back-up having been considered, i On the msidered._Let Bridge Sion low “that traffic ! IT HAS BEEN announced that Bridge will -eventually have it's own by-pass. once the route has been: decided, S completion will prob- take: two years. Mean- while~ the residents suffer from danger to life ard limb, damage to ‘buildings and ex- cessive noise; mainly -from heavy lorries. travelling at too great a ‘speed. At the approach to Bridge on the A2 trom Canterbury there is a 40 m:p.h. sign. A few hundred yards beyond this at the start of the steep incline into Bridge there is a “Reduce Speed” sign. Reduce it to what? — Surely, it would “be plain common, sense to exchange but these signs , the same time to red :-40 m.p.h to 20-25 L Also, both sigrs a in three lan- guages, En; German with “the ~ “Reduce Speed Now” ‘and limit signs in kilometers as well as in m.p.h., so that Continental drivers can have no excuse for failing to comply with traffic regulations. (Mrs.) Jane Du Bowley, 11 Mill Wal! Place, Sandwich, Kent. JUGGERNAUTS could be banned from the A2 in Canterbury. Machinery is now in motion to create an order that would force drivers to turn round and go another way. & The City Council’s Public Works Committee has decided to go ahead with the ban as a demonstration that Canter- bury means business over lor- ries, and to emphazize_ the need for a by-pass. If the order comes into "effect lorries over ten tons and more than 36 feet long will be . in a fix. They will not be able to’ come any further into the city Blk aa than St. Peter’s roundabout on Rheims Way, or . the’ Dover Road in the other direction. But even if the council do make the regulation the Department of the Environ- et could ouccruie the ac- ion The basic idea is to break the link in the M2, A2 route to the Channel ports, and divert traffic elsewhere, and bring- ing the point home that Canter- bury must have its by-pass. Deputy town clerk Mr. Keith Hunt told the committee that all enquiries to the police, Kent County Council and the Department of the Environ- ment had brought more or less the same reply. The A20 route carried more traffic than the A2 and the authorities did not wish fur- ther to overload it. Cllr. Mike Fuller said they had to press ahead and hope the Department of the Envi- ronment wouid publish the by- pass plans for Canterbury. “We need to go through with what we said we would do,” he added, ’‘in spite of the fact that the Department of the Envi- ronment will step in and pre- vent us carrying out this order to stop lorries. “We must show the depth of our feelings and prevent jug- gernauts from using the A2 route through Canterbury.” Clir. Eric Hanscomb ¢om- mented that the situation|was serious with possible damage to buildings and free move- ment of people. “We must protect our- selves," he said. The committee decided to ; ' | use their delegated power to act on the implementation of the order. week that the park should be set aside for use by the people who are going to work at new District Council offices in Northgate. Canterbury has allowed the county inspectors to detain juggernauts at the car park. PLERLOADED | juggerna its at Kingsmead Road car park, Canterbury ~ (seen here), by weights and measures inspectors will soon _ have to go elsewhere. The City council’s Public Works Committee agreed last which is right beside the weighbridge. Now council officers are to find alternative parking space for the outlaw lorries after discussions with the Weights and Measures Department. MR. John Peyton, Minister for Trans- ‘port Industries,an- nounced yesterday that the Department of the Environment . has authorized Kent County Council to accept a £3,088,689 tender by Mears Construction Ltd., for building a by- pass to the villages of Boughton and Dunkirk on the A2 five miles west of Canterbury. Work will begin soon: It is expected that the project will take two years to complete. The by-pass, about three miles long, will leave the exist- ing trunk road immediately east aie 7 Brenley Corner roundabout, pass south of the two vil- lages and rejoin the A2 near the Gate Inn public house. It will have dual 24ft. carriageways with 12ft. grass Sb a SS verges and a 13ft. central reservation. _ Access to the by- ‘pass will be prohib- ited except at its terminal points where grade sep- arated slip. roads. ~ will be built. Ae ea estrian subway and sees scheme | involve as diver. = sion. Vic ment aoenlves 0 affected constru road bri S, 4 ped- footbridge. Assoy MIL $144 JO 4PAUp ayy sem ‘v9ssoz}eg ‘ynoqepunos $,4939d 3S 943 38 PeusNziaro jeqidsopy Aanquazue> pue 3u2y% 943 0} Uoye, SEM sowe{ aw ‘Aanquazuea ‘Aeay Su4y Juawjees3 4033e 2WOY PaMojje ‘gaenbs a9uuey gt JO ‘€% pase ‘kayo 3) 4ajye Aepanjeg uo syn> pue 204s. YIM A HEAVY. goods vehicle skidded over on to its side on Saturday afternoon at the Rheims Way/ St. Peter’s roundabout, and blocked the road for several hours causing considerable traffic con- gestion. Th S rushed to the scene to clear the road of highly inflammable diesel oil which leaked from the articulated lorry’s fuel tan Its driver was Mr. James Roffay, 23, of Fenner Square, Battersea, who was taken to Kent and Canterbury Hospital suffering from a cut eye. He was later discharged. The lorry was carrying crates of foam rubber which were strewn for many yards around the accident area CA1072 | Fighting the juggernaut menace Bridge is the village in Kent on the A2 Dover to London Road which has suffered so much both physical destruc- tion and fearful disturbance from the “juggernauts"’ up to 70 feet long which tear through its hitherto relatively quiet High Street on their way to and from the Continent. Wimpey pensioner F. Harris and his wife have lived at number 12 High Street for the past five years in a charming residence known as Regency Cottage. This has a period quality and | was impressed by the plaque on the front with the number XII in Roman numerals. The village is approached by a steep descent from either side, and has been the scene of many acci- dents involving lorries. The Har- ris's premises have not escaped unscathed Unlike 50 of the village houses which front straight on to the pavement, Regency Cottage has a brick wall between the small front garden and the roadway. This wall has already been damaged by one of the juggernauts. But even worse, says Mrs Harris, is the continual noise and vibration from the huge lorries. She thinks they are fortunate to have sold their house so they may seek peace and quiet elsewhere. Coincidentally, opposite the cot- tage lives Brian Lewis, who is a quantity surveyor with Wimpey Department 18's Maidstone office. Narrow High Street Brian is also the A2 Group secretary who has conducted the campaign against the gigantic lorries using the village's High Street, which at one point is only 18 feet wide, while pavements narrow to 18 inches. The campaign has been success- ful in obtaining a promise that a by- pass will be constructed. A start is to be made next year, but it will take three years to complete the job. Worse to come Meanwhile the villagers go in fear as accidents occur, people get hurt and their houses are damaged. Brian tells me there is an average of only four seconds’ gap between vehicles passing through the High Street, and a census revealed that a heavy lorry thunders through the village every 46 seconds day and night. He computes that over 500,000 lorries use the route in the course of a year, and last year the TIR traffic increased by 29 per cent, with worse to come A typical monster Jorry en route from the Continent negotiates the narrow High Street of Bridge in Kent. Heavy /orries thunder through the village at intervals of 46 seconds, day and night. Photograph by courtesy of Associated Newspapers Ltd | October 1973 plugge: way” ty Pils the Kent land the ie of the 1t and Kent press for- for a Can- and the Aaeal _ traffic nd, City Pe ratrmen, || cou Puttorwara the f who said Tt would be nice to think vottttee for || that this .could have! been AT b datas Y controled pe devas eee of : on ji ¢ pressure ont iy eI _ Said Cllr Fuller; “The DASH ment sought. by our MP,and und of ead tex Tg I congratulate him for trying, The problems of tiis|| has not been achieved, and | eryone's problem In|) we are left, with trying to eee : rotect our own area from the WWE en voy “T ‘want. support for the action that ME o eiity nell ‘ap its cons! . Beers which res which Re Group, has | No. Abeepctober 3, 1973 nm heavy goods lorries using the A2 trunk route where it passes through Canterbury, Kent, is being sought by the city council — despite official discouragement by the Department of the Environment and the police. The effect of such a ban on international haulage vehicles using Dover would be immediate and serious in aggravating congestion. The city council is being asked by its public works committee to make a draft. Order prohibiting vehicles over 10 tons or 36 ft in length. The move is the latest in a long campaign’ by councils and protest groups along the A2 through East Kent to ban international haulage vehicles from the route, which narrows to 18 ft in parts of Bridge village, four miles on the coastal side of Canterbury. A BAN. A2 Group formed by residents along the “TIR Trail’ claimed that a census they had conducted showed that a heavy lorry passed through, on average, every 46 seconds. They claimed that this was a 29 percent increase in the . number of “juggernauts” in one year, and an 11 percent rise in the number of all types of lorries. 5 Secretary Mr Brian Lewis declared, “Since the faceless ones at the Department of the lL aa aann Vet LL THREAT TO VER ROUTE ONS ALE A hades SIS Ye Hits UN pom | In August, members of the | Dover route Continued from page 1 Governments’ failure to prepare for entry into the Common Market. The Sheriff of Canterbury, Councillor Michael Fuller — who is prospective Labour Parliamentary candidate for the constituency — initiated the moves to ban lorries. - Alternative Councillor Fuller suggested that the alternative route should be the A20 or “preferably, the Canterbury by-pass”. This route, not yet defined, is not expected to begin construction until the 1980s. @ The one shipping com- pany, virtually certain to nefit from any ban on com- mercial vehicles passing through Canterbury would be the recently launched Thanet Shipping Line, whose roll- on/roll-off service connects | Ramsgate and Flushing. | The Thanet ed as one of 1 Environment are reepansible ‘Street, London, W.1. and printed by Swale for creating this problem it is up to them to solve it. “T don’t see why innocent | residents here should pay the penalty for successive Continued on page 24 x ALL-OUT support ban heavy lotries fr national freight ~Notices announcing the ban ~~ which would affect lorries Seg 10 tons or more than ft in length Shave been published by the ‘council. It ean cover the A2 between © Rheims Way roundabout and the junctions of the New are Old Dover’ Roads’ with t Lawrence Road, Canter: | bury. ‘ International Freightin: ‘Weekly, mouthpiece of the road hauliers, described the LN eat eas “immediate ious. in in con tion aggravating vr Brian Lewis, secretary <4 the A2 Group said that in e “strongest possible terms” his organisation supported the City Council. I view such action as sen- sible and practical.”)said Mr Lewis this week. “It should not .only. demonstrate the urgent need for sthe early completion of a Canterbury by-pass, but will have the effect. of ridding the A2 villages, Bridge in particular, of the TIR menace.” RECORDS BROKEN Last month Dover. broke all records with its lorry throughput, said Mr Lewis, with 15,000. vehicles being handled. This daily average of 500 compared ‘with 300. a day last year. Mr Lewis added: “Since the faceless ones at the Depart- ment of the Environment are responsible for creating: this problem it. is up to them to solve it. § “I don’t see why ‘innocent residents here should pay the penalty for successive Governments’ failure to pre- pare for entry into the Com- mon Market.” wey The ban was _ initiated earlier this year by.y;the Sheriff, Clir Mike Fuller, as a means of drawing to Govern; ment and public attention the concern felt by people}living on the A2 over the TIR lorries. ‘ a Clir Fuller. suggested. that the alternative route should Another A2 satety Ae by David Rose. i - for ree Council in its moves to ae from the A2 through Canterbury came this week from the A2 Group — te the plan has met Massive opposition from many sources, including inter- companies and the police. measure A pedestrian subway is to | be built »alongsidethe A2 at | Watersend Bridge, Temple | Ewell, the notorious accident | black-spot.’, where ‘three sol- | diers were”™killed’in a crash earlier this year! At present, pavements stop on either side of the bridge and pedestrians ‘are forced to walk in the road, After the | triple fatal accident, villagers | at Lydden and,Temple Ewell) demonstrated for safer con- ditions at the bridge. Authorising Kent County Council to accept a £37,000 contract for the subway, the Department, of the Environ- ment has admitted that the restricted visibility on the S-bend under the bridge | makes it hazardous for ‘ork on the subway, which will be bored through the railway embankment, should Rota tex Bohrmary and ia eae. ition im be the A20 or “preferably the Canterbury by-pass.” The route for the. by-pass is not yet known, although _ the Government’ is. expected to reveal it shortly. Mr Frank, Lyon, of the Road Haulage Association, | told me that any attempt to impose a™ban on certain vehicles over the A2 would be “entirely impracticable.” He continued: “It is the main route to Dover, and the idea of diverting the lorries & long way. round ; will only lengthen | their, journey and add to the inconvenience of someone somewhere else. “It doesn’t solve any prob- lems. The obvious solution is a by-pass as’ far as Canter- bury is “concerned which would take the ‘traffic away from residential ‘areas, It is too easy simply to.say ‘We'll kick these vehiclés out.’ If everyone said that none of our members would be able to turn a wheel.” Mr Georgé..Mitchell, secre- tary of the association’s High- ways and Traffic Committee, said he hoped, his. organisa- tion would;/soon..be having talks with the. City, Council to discuss the new order. “Our particulan concern is an - alternative: / route,’ said | Mr Mitchell. ““Wevare the first to agree to any scheme like this if there.is‘an alternative route but'.IWhitstable Road ares.” Ch aon A he HG oh “No -contracts;have been signed and ‘no’ final decision has beer ken,” added Mr Archer, ey 4 what Canterbury” “Baptists this year celebrate their 150th an- niversary and have ae at] the present chu: since 1823.. Before that sy had bought the old King” Street ps) Methodjst Chapel for £600: in 1823. cluding. little Listing the reasons why. | the present — considerations | are being made, Mr Archer) said that more and more) elderly people could not get i up the church \steps, cars could not stop “to -pick up passengers in St George's Place, they were likely to Jose some car: parking space now. used by congregations, the building was costing more and more to, repair and renovate, and there was no Free Church.on (the other side\of the’ My 5 ras & The: Whitstable Road area also had many-homes and Mr Archer said they fe oads Mr Peyton will have secret talks at Tower House with city »councillors and officers over the ontroversial proposal to ban. ‘heavy lorries from the A2 within [. the city boundary. He will then he » walk to the Beaney Institute to b H Leis ast Si CO 2 yon Al Reet ember 15, for an hold a press conference and open the exhibition. hursday, | The City Council's plan to ban | xhibition on proposed’ routes the ‘lorries teontathes Aa _>rthe Canterbury by-pass. between the St Peter's round- Peyton visits Canterbury next week Kk, 6.53 i Ministe fo probe city’s ie is. of St “receive ‘by about and the junction: yy Town Clerk’s EARS Oe Ne Dee rae te, council i an lover Roads —’ y had'for ers supporti been heavily criticised. its action> ee ore These will be considered by the next meeting of the Public Works Committee on December 4, unless thechairman, Cllr Alf Walker, decides to call a special meeting before then. date for objections and 2 morning 33 had been t, ‘ q . Kent Police and international haulage companies are among those who have said they are against the idea. Yesterday (Monday) was the closine by late eS ETELY # would be raised betwe: ton Lane and Nackingto After this the road would = follow the lie of the land and ‘link road between Thanington or Wincheap with Route C, owing to the long detour necessary. ‘The Department of the Envi- ronment ‘say that the close routes would give better value for money in economic terms because of their shorter length and greater benefit to traffic. ‘The cheapest by a small margin is Route A, 4.5 miles. Route B is 4.7 miles, andC is _ 5.2 miles. . ‘ ¢ Disadyantages are its prcx- | imity, to the hospital, a large ~_ school, possible demolition of homes, and the division of | pround Canterbury, of houses in document for the b Nackington passes maintains that predi ee: Road around 1978. — _ Environment's consultative Brannon. can be obtained from the council offices, and Friday 16 November 10 a.m. to The official consultative 8p pninnhh —— [has started 4 ? le started. Enginee; week on the to 8 2-year Project to il | loop around ways, with will hi “subway. w cons’ a _ unin Road and a Podesta bridge at. Poplar View, Boughton, There || will also be two. farm! accom- modation bridges ar when completed, pecan and tree ‘planting schemes will be carried out where aj ropriate. ck ie gee During the contract — which has been aw ido not jstity Gp > " vill |. The highest || be construct |} at } oO deepest cutting will be of 6 ‘the top of Bough' on ELE || The existing section of the A2 | | will remain open for local traffic } after the by-pass, which is being, Canterbury's’ M.P. Mr. {afr by th rotated) David Crouch told the Kentish || the Environm: ne j Observer he would favour the Pigs : building of Route C because of a gn its minimal interference with houses, and he would press for dual carriageways. If Routes A and B are chosen about 20 houses and a shop could be demolished. Economic benefits to Canter- ury however would be good. Mr, ch has eaid that the ; ica - could be started in a ‘with a finishing date Pinieey, wey Copies of the Department of Wek pays Mr sand e ition of pl gs wath a model of the ee routes will be open on ., on 17 November from 4 m, and on Tuesday, i oie John Purchese, oO wu Hon. Secretary/Treasurer: ¥ Pp Chairman: Heatseal ve 1 High Street, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent Mill Cottage, Bekesbourne, Canterbury, Kent We care about the A2 Trunk road to Dover from the M2 Please reply to:- Mill Cottage, Bekesbourne, Kent. 27.10.1973 The Regional Controller, "Edgeborough", Epsom Road, Guildford, Surrey. Dear Mr. Oversby—Powell, Thank you for your prompt letter in which you categorically deny that the Canterbury By-Pass would possibly start at Knight Avenue, at — the northern end. I shall see that the person (who is of some prominence in Canterbury) who made the assertion to one of A2 Group Committee hears of your comment. iy In due course I would be most grateful to hear your thoughts 4 on the effect of the Channel Tunnel project as far as A2 is concerned; which / was the second point in my letter to you. In case you fear that you will never hear a compliment, from the A2 Group, let me congratulate your Department on the work now being : in the Barham area, where the road is being made up to dual carriageway with 2 some of the bends being removed from the existing line. We have also noted the preliminary stumping out of part of Bridge By-Pass with satisfaction. Finally; you doubtless know that DRAG (Dover Radial Action Group) had intended a demonstration today at Rochester Way, Eltham; on the A2 north of the M2; because of the perilous situation in that section of the road. The demonstration was called off after the Police had threatened the DRAG Committee with prosecution for conspiracy. I Sincerely trust that the improvements now under way at the southern end of A2 will soon be available to our northern colleagues. Yours sincerely, John hese, Chai : A2 Group Reporter: DENYSE WREN TODAY the Kentish Observer publishes exclusively the three possible routes for Canterbury’s long awaited by-pass. This is the pews for which People and iterbury City Council have been waiting. All the routes are proposed to start at the end of the Harbledown by-pass, and to ¢ join with the near end of the Bridge by-pass. Currently it is Proposed to build single car- riageways. ‘Two pass fairly close to the city, and the third is placed further out in farmland across the Stour Valley. Cost is estimated at over £3 million for routes A and B; nearer Canterbury, and route C, the longest, will cost more. S: And for the first time Canterbury people are to be invited to comment on the proposals before official. en- quiries are held. The Minister of Transport Industries, Mr. John Peyton is to visit Canterbury next Thursday to talk about the city’s traffic problems. He will open a four day exhibition of the by-pass plans at the Beaney Institute during his stay. emir el ROUTES By-pass lines A and B would follow the same line from the Upper Harbledown by-pass near China Farm (see map) to a point east of Thanington. These would allow a junction with any Wincheap radial Toad. The radial road is in the county council’s pipe line to’ improve traffic access from the south of Canterbury. Fis More definitely Route A be: yond Thanington Road would follow a path to pass Simon © Langton Boys’ School and Canterbury District Hospital @ PAGE25 Here they are. Take a good look — the three possible routes for a Canterbury by- pass. , 4 NR) my een Is 313 ratte by Ghiristophér Riddell POSSIBLE routes for’ the er aa Wr: hc pass, out of the Governmiéit “by , the City Council’s \thteatened ban on lorries using the ‘A2," were published on Wednesday and immediately roused a storm of controversy. ; ‘All three Toutes proposed by the Government would sweep south of the city, link- ing the Upper Harbledown and Bridge by-passes and would cost roughly the. same, about £3,300,000. ans ; But the Department of ‘the Environment has stressed that present traffic flows would not justify more than a single-carriageway road. This suggestion.» has stunned many of the people who have fought for a speed- up in the by-pass. and oven the years have taken» for granted that it would be, a dual-carriageway road. 4 Another major disappoint- ment is that nowhere in’ the - Department of the” Environ- ment’s consultative: document containing the proposals? is =! there the ‘slightest “hint, ‘of , when the by-pass work mfght | « start. ne “The lack of a defiite, start- ing date and suggestion of 2 ‘ single - carriageway.make © these proposals painfully in- adequate,” said Mr John Pur- chese, chairman .of the,.A2 Group. ry N This view was strong! p=. ported by Cllr alts cau chairman of the City" Coun- Develop- . St ESR Wd cil’s Planning and ment Committee. ‘I am very \coneérned about this auSgestibn that 1): the by-pass should bea. single-carriageway,” “he kta: “I think it is very important: for the future that. it, should’ be a dual-carriageway: and, am sure that this. thing that the City. will be pressing for." LONG PERIOD ‘y Clir>Fuller#also protested about the lack of a’ definite .° > starting date and added, 7 am concerned about the’ time’ it’s likely to take~before: the” Department of the Environ: ment reaches a decision. “T think we allwelcom: the long period for. consulta- tion with the public, But 1” don’t think the ;depar; can go much beyond: th s Year before they declare their hand.” As us Ciir Fuller will*b “one the City Council) representa tives at Thurday’s “meeting” at Canterbury with , the Minister for Transport 'In- dustries, Mr John Peyton. Also present will *be Cllr Alf Walker, chairman of the Public Works Committee, whose strong-line tactics on the A2 lorry ban sparked off Mr Peyton’s visit to the city,. . “I think the most important “ question to ask is when is : . tky OF. fa 3s!) work going to start. It’s just ‘ 4 gen 2 not on for them not to give a date,” Clir Walker said on ROUTE COMPARISON Wednesday. aia Peng , “They've been | sitting on their backsides over this re- ROUTE A Pore Ht so Jone te) peeks in ; ie nister’s hands_ since ; 3 i "I . June, 1972—that I think they DATA Subject to detated design i 47 miles abould have given a starting Totallength ~ 5 4S miles ‘ ak Sl OP die, fae | Cost (including land and property) 1972 prices | 000 , ON DETAILS —_SSingle carriageway 83,200,000” £39,000 : Ra Sys aS ' Dual carriageway ‘| £4,950,000 + 250,000 Cllr Walker, who did not Junction with Wincheap Radial and A28 £ 250,000 want to comment on details ‘ ‘ Rs Good é cea! he had ont ge ne 28: Economic benefits Good : 1a hous ae port more closely, e } probably a lot 2f trouble” Property demolished “i hones | shop tg over the suggestion that a ; op 38. Es Spent be caryed throug! Agricultural land taken Grade | (very good land) 47 44 ; Our Mr Roy Seaborne, of the (Acres) _ Grade 2 (good land) 30 tha Taoat uentad amenity Grade 4 (poor land) 5 ik ™' influentia. amen! rade poor lan icle up, found it impossible to rim 87 A at partme SHAK. B Cavarnmient fle Total 82 5, Avoids dei seitio® ay ent could ulate the I}. heory that a dual-carriage- for money property. belt Bue , a. Good value ves wide "final Eyed ech a Tess eg ADVANTAGES . Good value for money | Snore rout see I City bur) consultants that have repor- ted? Fe aific by-passible by local ber, Past, has always accented the c, Coudibe used by local | ¢ Could °° ttas nation of the single- through traffic eaves adeqU From "Soares, ae come a. Least intrusive in | MA eo Cty ‘ | Pavid Crouch, who described j lands caveat route Bs jor money I Week’ shortsighted and prom- e. Marginally ¢ ax lgumnyelug?,: 0 od eens ised to pr eaatDe Minister for Jolves Some housing |}, Longest rove jul level velit Crouch added, DISADVANTAGES a. Involves some housing er a. Invo c. Takes pag pa justi ‘ rh! eased that the Govern- ‘ b. Possible serious severan' d. No ber in not just published effect on farms _ |e, Very intrus'® ment thelr routes, ‘but published ee ‘ tal landscap* Passes close to hosp! * “and school site 9 ne mms nal ae area Bill’ “several MPs’ expressed sani i Eoitiess Cllr Alf Walker — Cllr Mike Fuller — Mr Roy Seaborne — “When will “Concerned about “Need for dual-road “Proposals painfully work start?” timing.” always accepted.” inadequate.” ~~ ANTERBURY SOUTHERN BY - Vepeeacostive Routes", | a eseyscale - 1:250004%4 = = Se: % SoH / FB ; a t », RISA S \ JEP APOkS Bo: a ants Veo Pe 30.) Lod Se - Bos, a GIST E LS Gat! eee. On this plan of the three routes, specially prepared by | | } the Kentish Gazette from a Department of the Environ- ‘ "“\f ment map, farm and place names have been enlarged EC X t0 give a clearer idea of the route. On the left i the xd ¢ the three alternatives, aE ; m assessment of cheers On are clearly favoured. showing how routes A and B ea les eat Paws ae ! Pi lip Ty ti | bare “Our revised estimates show that by 1975, the flow of through traffic on the A2 in Canterbury would be suf. _ ficient in itself to warrant tion of a two-lane dual Carriage- way road » 8S a by-pass en bell ie the City.” Colin € uchanan and Partners’ | final report on the Cante: | bury Traffic Stua in ber, 1970 She see .. and now a r MONney — . What the Minister » talk rahe of the type the-city’smeds Horrified \shoppers and stared “as the Dover- bound — juggernaut slewed across the road and plunged through the railings into the subway. A" ys Over 30°\feet of railings were ripped out of their con- crete base’ as: the lorry toppled on to’its side, spilling part of its load'of wallpaper and mechanical components | into the pedeStrian subway. |The lorry cab disintegrated and windsereen. glass was thrown over aj.wide area. In the subway,.as' the wreckage flew, was. a young mother and her baby.’ Both suffered shock and minor injuries and were taken. home, by taxi, One eye witness was an East Kent bus. driver, Mr Philip High, who, saw the crash as he walked along St George’s Place, * “yt stood heard a grating sound and saw the cab of the lorr ‘oing over on to the rail- ngs,’ he said, “A mother and her baby, coming up. the sub- way, were showered with the glass from the broken wind- | Screen. She was svery upset | and I helped penppallect her things and get ‘of the ay.” “ 2 5 choolboy ™ Steyen aged 11, o: anterbury, Love, 41 Zealand Road, saw the | lorry rou out terror. centre. A YOUNG:mother sheltered her baby from: showers. of flying glass! as’/a ‘Continental juggernaut ‘overturned and ploughed'antoya subway at Canterbury’s St:George’s Gate roundabout. on™Wednesday. It was a copybook accident anterbury has come to fear.and underlined for-banning’ mongtér lorries from the “A2.. erm 2 Was ita about whitewash , from the London® direction: “It wasn’t’ going very fast, but. its load “must” have shifted as it turned off to- wards St George’s Place,” he said. The lorry driver, Mr Walter Unger, of Graz, Austria, was taken to the Kent and Can- terbury Hospital, and was released after "treatment. Yesterday. (Thursday), his 16. ton lorry was being examined by. a Ministry of. Transport vehicle examiner, »* * The accident shortly after 2.30 within minutes traffic in the city was reduced toa stand- still. Although Police. man- aged to allow traffic’ to filter peat SiR es built up on proaches’ to the salty? Soy A diversion was set’ up through Longport for motor ists coming from’ the Sturry direction, but as the evenin; rush-hour added to the ¢) 10S Sturry Road was choked Ms ith ‘a crawling queue of vehicles, Four hours after the crash: the road was completely Blocked apie the juggernaut nr ed and t minus ae load, aed ant! It took a team of worl using a fork-lift trucie ewes 3.30 anh yesterday to Oa 0. he Q shift campaign? CANTERBURY'S visit from Transport Industries Minister Mr John Peyton ‘yesterday (Thursday) was ‘would .be | undesirable, d sters for “EEC b: | Britain's Praag Tnqus. We slammed as a whitewash campaign to placate the City Council over its: plan: to ban heavy lorries from the A27 The attack came from Liberal Clir Tony Fisher, a member of the six-man delegation from the council which met Mr Peyton to discuss the heavy traffic ,prob- lem. fey The Minister, who came to Canterbury to open 4 four-day exhibition .on ‘the | proposed routes for»Canterbury by-pass, travelled by. rail, After arrivin for his three-hour stay: he wen to Tower House for the private Hpbi fal eid over ‘by the Mayor, r Mrs Hettie Barber. Afterwards’Mr Peyton said the talks were eli and constructive .and I ink we understand one another?’ ONEXT, STEP But ‘Cllr Fisher said’ council members*at the’meeting were likely.'to press“ the rest of the council to take its next eee in juices an)*order: to “ban heavy lorries from the A2 within the city boundary. He; added;,,;‘I. personally feel that, although :in some respects the” Minister. appreciates: the problem,,;in ‘general the whole visit{;today. was. originally planned ’as a whitewash’ cam- paign..),,. ' “He ‘came heré ito placate us and’ change our jdéas on the lorry. ban. But I think I can say that the feeling’ of the majority of the council is that thé ‘lor: ban will Fo on)and we.’ will proceed with the application. We can.only hope that the Minister’s remarks about a 1976 start for the by-pass are sincere.’’ A» veiled. warning of. what might happen if the council did ‘0: ahead with the order banning fe lorries came from Mr Peyton during .a; brief Press conference at the Beaney Institute; before he opened the exhibition. “The Government has some residual powers,’ he said, ‘‘and if it became clear that there was a real conflict of interests and it view of ‘the Government, to proceed, then the right thing would, be’ to have a public inqui. and the’ Secretary of State to direct on it.” But he added that he did not want to anticipate any decision by the council. ‘‘I have had ve: helpful talks with the council this morning. It is not for me to make the decisions of the council but they are very conscious of the difficulties that face them.” He did say that no useful pe ose would be ined by g heavy traffic off one road and putting it on another. To Europe ‘A Kentish Gazette photo- graph of Wednesday's TIR ‘crash at St George’s Gate roundabout is to be taken ‘ian to the Council of John vies Ministery: Peyton. dy Bacented hat photo. esterday (1 pieday K Aue visil e city. The picture was taken b: Bait photographer Keit ig. rookin, in -the-} Les U.R.C.P. a l'ecoute a bcroBer 1475 len Prttent Leuliiers . de la securite... a l'echelon Européen Laver la période de vacances, le Conseil tional des U.R.C.P. est intervenu prés de M. le nistre des Transports du gouvernement: bri- pnique pour lui faire part de l’insécurité que résentent pour les chauffeurs de poids lourds rtaines portions de la route A 2 de Douvres a yndres. Cette intervention a été faite en accord avec tre camarade Franck Bevan que tous les | Chers Camarades, “Nous remercions trés sincérement votre grande organisation pour aide qu’elle nous apporte dans notre action prés du Ministre des Transports de Grande-Bretagne, en vue dobtenir une amélioration sensible de la circulation des poids lourds sur la route A 2 Douvres-Londres. Ces interventions sont un exemple des moyens que nous pouvons obtenir et utili- ser et de la solidarité qui nous unit entre syndicats de la Communauté européenne. Il me parait nécessaire dattirer Tatten- tion de tous nos camarades qui voyagent en Angleterre sur les dangers que représente la conduite de camions semi-remorques sur cette portion de route Douvres-Londres. ‘ _ Nous avons été informés d’accidents trés sérieux dans lesquels sont impliqués des chauffeurs de poids lourds et il nous est donc apparu utile de vous faire connaitre (ci-dessous) les dangers qui vous attendent sur cette chaussée mal préparée @ Vexpansion européenne. _ Bien amicalement @ vous tous. ! Le Conseiller, Franck BEVAN Canterbury ANGLETERRE — La partie la plus dangereuse se situe ns les premiers 36 kilométres partant de Dou- 8, au commencement de |'autoroute M 2. La route est étroite, sinueuse et tres dange- ise. A certains endroits, dans des villages imme par exemple Bridge, la chaussée ne talise que 6 métres de large. ° Les habitants des villages traversés par ltte route se sont d’ailleurs constitués, depuis Pe de 10 années, en association d'urgence, jur que des améliorations soient apportées a ‘tte situation. " Des tracts ont été diffusés par cet organisme ynalant les points dangereux. — On attire l’attention des conducteurs sur |Passage de la ville de Temple Ewel ot les Disements sont dangereux ainsi que sur la Ute en forme d’épingle a cheveux qui passe -dessous de Ia ligne de chemin de fer de Tem- f Ewel, C'est un endroit trés accidenté avec peu de chauffeurs qui fréquentent nos congrés connais- sent bien. Nous avons recu des réponses des person- nalités britanniques lesquelles nous ont assuré que cette situation serait réglée avant 1976. Nous reproduisons ci-dessous la lettre de remerciements que nous avons recu de notre cher ami Franck Bevan qui est actuellement conseiller de sa région. visibilité ou les camions remorques sont sus- ceptibles d’empiéter sur la ligne médiane. = Attention également au croisement de Barham ot la circulation transversale peut aug- menter subitement. — Dans le village de Bridge, la route forme un §, les trottoirs sont trés étroits, il y a tres peu de place pour dépasser. — A Canterbury, le périphérique peut vous induire en erreur aussi, il est recommandé de regarder trés soigneusement les panneaux rou- tiers, sinon, vous risquez de manquer |’embran- chement de-l’A 2. — En approchant de Harbledown, la route rétrécit en haut de la céte et redescend par une pente raide qui se termine en S. C’est |’endroit le plus dangereux aprés Bridge. — Vous trouverez un autre village, Boughton avant d’accéder a l’autoroute M2 a Brenley Corner, laquelle vous conduira jusqu’a la ban- lieue de Londres. ll reste cependant encore un endroit dange- reux appelé Rochester Way ot la route se rétrécit sensiblement. Ne pensez surtout pas que toutes les routes britanniques sont mauvaises. Nous commengons tout juste a construire nos routes longtemps apres d'autres pays européens. Un grand nom- bre de routes accédant a nos ports ne sont amé- liorées que parce que notre pays devient mem- bre de la C.E.E. C'est parce que nous sommes inquiets pour votre sécurité que nous nous sommes permis de vous donner ces conseils. Nous continuons a compter fermement sur votre appui pour nous aider par vos interventions au plan communau- taire ou autres afin que les chauffeurs profes- sionnels puissent circuler sur les routes britan- niques avec un maximum de sécurité. Merci et Bonne route. Nous ne manquerons pas, pour la sécurité de nos camarades de continuer a apporter notre soutien a nos amis britanniques. Nous profitons pour remercier notre ami Franck Bevan de nous avoir permis d’épauler son action et celle de ses concitoyens. eee Department of the Environment Regional Controller Roads and Transportation South Eastern 74 Epsom Road Guildford Surrey Telex 85335 Telephone 0483 (Guildford) 71101 ext J Purchese Esq Your reference The A 2 Group Mill Cottage Our reference Bekesbourne DSE 200/09/1/TR 34/01 ean = SJ November 1973 Dear Sir 4. Thank you for your further letter of 27 October. 2. On the question of the Channel Tunnel and its effect on traffic on the A 2, I do not think I can offer you any better comment than that given in the recent HMSO be publication on the Channel Tunnel (Cmnd 5430) a copy of which can be obtained from Her Majesty's Stationery Office (price 68p). From this it will be seen that the : estimated freight diversion from the Dover/folkestone area to a tunnel (1970 figures) is of the order of 83% and 60% in 1980, whilst the reduction of passengers with : vehicles using the shipping services on the French straits routes in the same year ig expected to be of the order of 82%. Most of these vehicles would arrive at the tunnel by the M 20 and therefore the reduction of traffic on A 2 would be considerable. 3- No doubt you will have seen from the recent Canterbury By-pass exhibition that eve in the 1990's, the amount of traffic which is forecast would use a Canterbury By-pass, and this includes cross channel and more local traffic, could, on a consideration of — capacity, be accommodated on a single carriageway if the Tunnel is in operation then. 4. The possible improvement of the northern end of the A 2 in the Eltham area is the responsibility of the Greater London Council, as highway authority, and is not therefo a matter on which I can comment. If you require any further information on this : subject, you might wish to contact the Council direct. Yours sincerely G H OVERSBY-POWELL —_———— Regional Controller NN SEPREOE'S'Si5 ee TE Re RAR EE) | | ; -BRIDGE-BLEAN RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL COUNCIL OFFICES; ‘ OLD DOVER ROAD, RK OF THE COUNCIL: 1.F SOILLEUX, D.M.A, M.LLG.A. (ENTRANCE FROM COSSINOTON ROAD) { B.G.S.HASTE, AA.C.CA. AR.V.A, ACLS. GNONEER ASURVEYOR! F.U.THACHRAY, Citnoy MLMUN, Ex AMLME, CANTERBURY, KENT, PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTOR: J.W.A.BREWSTER, FA.P.H.I. CT1 3DH TELEPHONE: CANTERBURY 664iI (4 LINES) Dear Mr Lewis _ HIGHWAYS - BRIDGE Thank you for sending me a copy of your letter _ dated 3 November addressed to the County Surveyor. | ould you let me have a copy of his reply in due | Yours sincerely A Lewis Esq er tary/Treasurer KENT COUNTY COUNCIL Roads Department A. D. W. SMITH, KENT HOUSE, ye B.Se.(Eng.) C.Eng., F.l.C.E., F.l.Mun.E., M.Inst.H.e. LOWER STONE STREET, : MAIDSTONE, r COUNTY SURVEYOR KENT, ME15 6LA. Es, YOUR REF. This matter is being dealt with Maidstone 65400 Ext. 238: by Mre Smith (STD 0622) , MY REF. 107LB. 84 /88, /2 Traffic Conditions, Bridge | Thank you for your letter of 3rd November, 1973. Every year a review is carried out of accident records on directly maintained Trunk and Class I roads in the County. A length of road o: . 0.1 miles accumulating 20 points or more is entered on the County bla spot list. The points are found by allocating 4 for fatal, 3 for serio and 2 for slight injury accidents averaged over 3 years. Some locations appear persistently and obviously these are given priority when considering remedial measures. Others may appear infrequently or per! only once. This is the first time the junction of High Street and Patrixbourne Road has entered the list, and it has 21 points. The tw unfortunate fatal accidents near the junction in May and December 1972" accounted for 8 points. The list is prepared for investigation purposes “ and it does not follow that each location qualifies for 'Black Spot' signs These are only used in exceptional cases with the authorisation of the Department of the Environment. } Locations falling within the black spot category are passed on to ° County Road Safety Officer. I understand that the information is given to Road Safety Committees, so they are more than likely discussed at meetin of these organisations at which the press are present. I presume tha’ this is what happened when the Kentish Gazette mentioned the junction of Patrixbourne Road and A2. ey The 30/40 mepeh. speed limit signs should be illuminated and ai f was placed on Seeboard as long ago as January this year. Because of staffing and other problems they have been unable to undertake the ‘work spite of constant reminders. I now have their assurance, however, that the connections will be completed before the end of next week. I am glad that the yellow bar markings on Bridge Hill meet with your a Group's approval and as far as Town Hill is concerned, I have been in ip touch with Mr. Finbow. I understand that the provision of bar markings on that side of the village is still under consideration and that the Regional. Controller will be referring the proposal to Department of the Environment. headquarters for decision at that level. “hes Ba: Lewis, Esqe, Yours sincerely, pas/ tecaearery Cc. David Crouch Ese. HP. re | 1 ar h Rees 1S. Soidlean — clech Lis stead Bridge - Bi BRIDGE, Y] Bridge - Blea Nbc. peepee Kent. County Surveyor i CTA 5JY. ‘ Please reply impersonally to The County Surveyor quoting my Ref: } VG ye SE EES WT AE ae Chairman: Hon. Secret: pe eaeurer: John Purchese, Brian A. iy Mill Cottage, Bekesbourne, 1 High Stre ‘idge, Canterbury, Kent Canterbi t he We care about the A2 Trunk road to Dover from the M2 I Please reply to:: +s High Street, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 5JY. 14th November 1973, Stone Street, one, Kent. Traffic Conditions, Bridge. Thank you for your letter dated 9th November, 1973. : I appreciate your detailed analysis concerning : / Spots’, but you will note from the text of my letter d: ember, that I am not requesting the provision of s cl reiterate that I am grateful for the interim safety L in the village, although nothing can replace the ear easures ' completion umination of the 30/40 mepeh. speed limits, and find” ehensable that 10 months should have been allowed + orks are expedited. Z With reference to the yellow bar markings on Tow! be grateful if you could secure a decision from th = yj nvironment headquarters as soon as possible. Perhaps you would \ enough to inform me of their decision in due course? Thanking you for your co-operation, Yours sincerely, k of Br —Blean Hele a Beiiicux Fei, Clex ac Brian A. Lewis: Sec/freasurer, A2 Group. he te sartment of the Environment. gional Controller Roads and Transportation Epse n Road Guildford Surrey 85336 Telephone 0483 (Guildford) 71101 ext 280 Your reference Our reference bse /200/09/1/TR / November 1973 ank you for your further letter of 10 October. I appreciate your concern that work on the By—pass should begin as soon le, I am afraid the soonest that a start can be achieved is as Mr Speed a the House of Commons in June. I am sure you will appreciate that not only have e legal requirements to be met in establishing a new road, but that structures re to be designed, and there are a number of these on the Bridge By-pass, and cuments prepared so that a contract may be let for the works. I am equally sure u would agree that to build structures on which people will have access without ficient time for proper design consideration would not be acceptable. With regard to the yellow bar markings on Bridge Hill, the results of speed asurement checks and observations made of their effect on traffic are at present g evaluated and I anticipate that a decision whether or not these should be ovided on Town Hill will be taken shortly. I will of course write and let you ow what the decision is in due course. This paper is suitable for Dyeline photocopying ae , Hon. Secretary/Treasurey re The |A2| Group Ge nos, Pats A Cow | Mill Cottage, Bekesbourne, 1 High Street, Bridge. Canterbury, Kent Canterbury, Kent We care about the A2 Trunk road to Dover from the M2 Please reply to:- Le High Street, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent. CT4 5JY. Your Refs H5/55/1 14th November 1973. I.F. Soilleux Esq., Clerk of the Council, Bridge-Blean R.D.C., ouncil Offices, 1, Old Dover Road, iterbury, Kent. Re: Highways, Bridge. Thank you for your letter dated 7th Novemb As requested, I enclose a copy of the Coun We appear to have been successful in the il! 30/40 mspeh. limits, and do not relish a similar dela ng a decision on bar markings for Town Hill. In this vein, perhaps you would be good enoug us by taking this matter further in your capacity of e Council? If you do decide to take such action, I would to receive copies of any correspondence which you me \ Please let me know if I can be of assistance. Yours sincerely, Briah A. lewis: Sec/Treasurer, A2 Group. Department of the Environment Regional Controller (Roads & Transportation) South East Region 74 Epsom Road Guildford Surrey GU1 2BL Telex 85335 Telephone 0483 (Guildford) 71101 ext 280 Your reference Our reference DSE 200/01/2/tR 34/09 Date AN December 1973 er to our telephone conversation on 28 November advised me of the meeting which you are proposing n Canterbury on Thursday. onsidered your invitation for a representative rtment to attend this meeting but regret that I As you know, we have only recently completed ‘bition on the by-pass in Canterbury at which ves of the Department were available to answer about the proposal, In view of this, I do not eal benefit could be gained from a representative her public meeting so soon after the ELSIE NENA SA Department of the Environment Regional Controller Roads and Transportation bt South Eastern - 74 Epsom Road Guildford Surrey Telex 85335 Telephone 0483 (Guildford) 71101 ext 274 yr Brian A Lewis Esq Your reference ; Secretary/Treasurer ee A 2 Group Our reference , 1 High Street DSE 200/09/TR 34/020 ioe, Bridge Date CANTERBURY Zo November 1973 Kent Dear Sir I refer to your letter dated 14 November, enclosing a copy of an advertisement which appeared in the International Freighting Weekly, the receipt of which is noted with — interest. Yours faithfully KM J FINBOW for Regional Controller EEE Wheeled freight that crosses the Chan- For the full story of our routes, facilities el comes in lots of different weights, and services, let us send you a copy of our hapes and sizes . . . Yet every single ‘Great for Freight’ booklet. It'll help you _yehicle and unit load must be handled solve your transport puzzle—and with | swiftly, efficiently and safely. never a cross word! Ea A real puzzle, sometimes. _ But one it’s our business to solve! One of the world’s most experienced freight ind ferry operators—adding at least one ew ship to our fleet every year—we help back your overseas sales effort by ing routes and services specially med to fit your freighting schedules. e’ve never fewer than 15 sailings a 0. And our exit ports of Southamp- d Dover are most convenient, ever your loads are coming from: links the M2 with Zeebrugge and. fais: and from Southampton’s end of M3 you can head for Cherbourg, and - Normandy Motorway, or pick up the 1 Motorway from Le Havre. Dover to Zeebrugge Dover to Calais Southampton to Le Havre Southampton to Cherbourg TOWNSEND THORESEN Great for Freight At Dover: Port Office, Eastern Docks, Telephone 0304-205676 Telex 96316 (Town Dock) At Southampton: Car Ferry House, Canute Road, Telephone 0703 34488 Telex 47619 (Car Ferry) FREIGHT MANAGEMENT, November 1973 16 0g tat do good itz ¥ Ottawa) Walley neg) ae 200" | q | y A ! Wh Sone : ; \ The Ottawa Citizen BRIDGE, England.— Be- fore the “Juggernauts”, this was a lovely English village. Nestled alongside the Lit- tle Stour «River, the red. brick cottages and flintstone parish church possessed. the character:of a tourist board poster. They still do, except that ‘For Sale’ signs are sprout- ing on cottages along’ the main street and the church’s stained-glass win- dows are cracking. There’s nothing ~ lovely about a village when. 45 tractor-trailers toar daily down its . narrow “main street, from-4 aan. to after i juggernaut ~ on- Slaught and that’s what the villagers actially call it—is part of. the price some ordi- nary Englishmen are paying so their country can join New Europe: : Towns quiver While Prime ~ “Minister Heath extols new airports, the Channel Tunnel and the Concorde SST, small. towns on the highways connecting. London with’ the ports of” Dover and Folkestone’ are quivering to their founda- tions. “It’s foreigners that are causing all the bother,” says Phe sanesttent™ fe “lowed a rally” ai gas ane He shouting directly into a visi- tor’ssear to make himself heard over ithe thunder of a motorized mastodon . rum- blingpast.carrying. Danish bacon to London stores. “It* could just: as_ easily have been from France, Bel- gium, Spain or, rua Haallioy iii to renew talks ; HAM A se ion of Public ~ (CUPE) Tepres striking* civie% rejected a uni would invite Local’ 5,-repre- senting 800 outside workers, ‘Aug: 31 at city hall Tuesday morning by about 400 striking workers. bled, "ith belle predicting 200,000 this year. Yet this seemingly-end- less stream of tractor-trans- ports is being, funnelled along narrow Kent toads which—like the-main street of . Bridge—haven’t | been’ ear co) Dover. have only themselves to blame. for. the current pre- dicament.. They form the. - *backbone of Britain’s anti- roads lobby, -- which “has | blocked . hundreds. of -plan- | ning schemes to bypass such | narrowstreeted villages with costly new highways. «Now they are‘hoisted on their own péetard. Continu- | ing to; oppose such bypasses | + means the bucolic village charm they admire will be und to. pieces ‘beneath juggernaut wheels, Yet.a rear-guard defense has been mounted against this second .Norman inva-| sion. While the British may have to put up with more foreigners’ trucks, they don’t want to put up’ “with Lovely Be villages yieldin i | genes The British and Irish are aligned against the rest of the : nomi Community in a battle over the maximum tractor-trailer size to be allowed by 1980. widened since the Romans: ae) continental EEC mem- d nations are battling to. id: the line at the current wuld be a life-and-dea cision for villages such as But some country gentry Bridge. ‘juggernaut’ ‘truck from Europe rumbles along the narrow main str! Wed. Page 14 Wi NOVEMBER 22, 1973 _ “KEEP your hoses clean, don’t make too many comments on your questionnaires, forget this Nonsense about banning heavy lornes from Canterbury and a Start. will be made on your bypass in 1976 rather than four, five or six years hence.” _This is the interpretation widely put on the message that John Peyton, minister for trans- port industnes, gave the people ot Canterbury when he opened a public exhibition of alternative city bypass routes last week. For though the minister's visit was ostensibly to highlight DoE’s first efforts in giving public parti- cipation facilities at the planning stage of a new road, he had also come to apply a little weight against the city’s troublesome highway authority. And _ stick-and-carrot _ tactics may have been thought neces- sary at government level to quietly . scotch — the _ authority’s eae to adopt a hard line policy forbidding passage through Can- terbury to. TIR juggernaughts. Canterbury is increasingly pla- e lorry Open minded, or just plain’ stalling? , tee, That is the question being asked of the DoE in the Kentishy city of Canterbury, scene of the Department's first efforts to bring road planning nearer the people. Ty Byrd reports. . 5 ‘ Juggernaughtmania is not’ a new phenomenom and. awareness of the problem and consequent protest is growing in proportion to the numbers of lorries. More than one other city council is waiting for the result of Canter bury’s testcase and the DoE jis anxious that a precedent is not set. So the issue is being kept very low key and_ arguments about where the traffic would go if not through Canterbury and the dangers ‘to other areas are mentioned now by the Depart- ment only as reinforcement to the hint that understanding and co-operation all round will bring a bypass sooner rather than later. John Peyton made this clear when talking of the part which Canterbury’s citizens have been called to take in choosing one of the three possible routes for. a bypass- given in-a_ consultative document. now being -circulated in the city. _ This document —. based on a much more comprehensive report from consulting engineer Brian Colauhoun and Partners. —_not sideration” of the géneral publ comments will take or net any — future announcement,» will” be made. John Purchese, chairman of the pressure A2 group, summe\ up local feeling when he Said: “The lack of a definite starting date and: suggestion of a single gatTebey at make ..these propo- sals painfully inadequate.” As for direct public participa- tion. one dispirited council offi- cial gloomily said of the ques- tionnaire “it gives the people of Canterbury the choicé of being shot through the head, or hanged by the neck.” * | case | yellow | bars for’ Whi ile rinciple ; ‘with the contents of Behind the Local Scene in last week’s Kent Herald, your columnist ‘The Departmentta ‘the En- . Diogenes has missed~ two | || vironment is. ) considering placing another set of yellow bars across the, A2 road at Bridge im an attempt down traffic entering. 1 lage fro! the Can direction. 2 ; : Earlier’ in the year, the bars were laid across the road at Bridge Hill, after a series of multiple crashes involving TIR juggernauts. The effect of the markings, which give a driver the im- pression his speed jis in- creasing and therefore en- courage him to brake before entering the village, has been “watched by the De- f the Environ- In a letter secretary, Mr Brian Lewis, the Department said it was waiting for the results of layin, ‘0 5 ne other. sid he village. ci THERE 1s hope that the rape. of New- ington, the’ little village = threatened by. thessc Kent: Gou ‘Council's planning\committee is wi . designation dif it is ght’ given in the next 20 | months to whether or not to go ahead. That was the theme of | an address given to a conference in London on Tuesday by Mr. Alan ‘adminis- it ahead of ASS, © x nr eenevNe Nm WET! US ay Whi approved, will have the effect of making part of the village a conservation area, ‘The committee’s deter- mination to try and minimise the effect of the cross-Channel rail link on the village and the neighbouring hamlet of Peene is. contrary to expert opinion, Chief Planning Officer Cornish, Transport Con- sultant to the -Channel Tunnel Opposition Associ- ation. i The two-day conference organised by the Finan- cial Times on ‘‘transport links between Britain and the Continent’’ centred on the Tunnel plans. Mr. Cornish drew a spirited ‘objection from Kent County Council Vice Chairman, Alderman Wil- vi pression. ‘courag ‘entering | Peyton, ironmen: placing another set of yellow pars across the A2_ Bridge in an attempt down prattigl enter ae ‘creasing and him the village, has been parce watched by the De- ATAU SOF ML Ed Richard Clarke has advised the committee that it might be better to delay a decision about conservation, \ But after careful consideration members decided not to accept the advice and to go ahead with a designation order. ~The committee’s deci- sion has the warm on’s Tunnel plea liam Simmons, whi 2 accused the KCC of being — muzzled by the Govern- ment in its consideration oftheTunnel. be Mr. Cornish said the Government had not given opportunities for discussion on any impor- tant aspects of the building ofthe Tunnel. He claimed that there was no need for another means of crossing the Channel and he accused the Government of faking. figures and leaving out matters of great economic | importance. During lunch Mr, hn Minister for Transport Industries, said the great increase in traffic flowing to the south-east had to be handled somehow. A tunnel is probably the cheapest and most ef-. ficient means of doing that, causing a good deal ‘less impact upon Kent than the alternative of expanded existing — means; he said. e ‘Tnadequacy of Kent * ‘roads has been clearly ‘revealed’’ he added. Congestion at Dover and Folkestone has been -a warning of what would happen if we continue to ush more traffic through hese ports. The Department of the .En- it is considering | ment. a at | ‘speed is in- “therefore pene to brake befor yeyer) Without withou Last wrote to Mr ta (S.C Rape of a village may be avoided “= approval of Elham Rural Council. and the Com- mittee for the Protection of Rural Kent. The threatened villa- gers are grateful but cautious. t oe They feel that, althoug! designation would pre- vent’ the wholesale de- struction of their homes, the close proximity of the Tunnel terminal inevita- bly. would spoil the quiet charm of the area. If the Government is able to go ahead with resent plans for the terminal Newington would be sandwiched between a road inter- change to the west, terminal facilities to the east, slip roads to the north and the main Continental railway’ line tothe south. 1 The Government ‘has made one concession to local amenities. It is now.» proposed that the major part of a loop line which would encircle the termin- ‘ al should be underground in the interests: of © Newington and Peene. Mr. Clarke said: ‘‘This is seen to be a major improvement and with extensive and sympa- thetic landscaping by earth mounding and tree’ planting, the noise and ~ visual impact should be kepttoa minimum. 25 - “Clearly, the setting of Toot , and as his load s just over nine f vide, e could not see spp rend ee the lorry. had of the weet aaa a 12 inch ga) him and the~ 4 The crates were securely ade and the width of the lorry S on it was inside />maxi- } pees pace accident po pret cau: eerTe of judg- ment, ot 4 a” dangerous load?; *Cesie Shs The magistrates ‘dismissed the case. , Hon. Secretary/Treasurer: e |A2| Group Chairman: Ppl Gigs se Cottaae! Bekesbourne, 1 High Street, Bridgé, Canterbury, Kent Canterbury, Kent runk road to Dover from the M2 We care about the A2 Ti eu ~ San ly to: 1,» High Street, Bridge, — 2a suite 20a. . Canterbury, Kent. CI4 5J¥s County Surveyor, 3rd November 1973.6 ie Kent County Council, : Kent House, lower Stone Street, Maidstone, Kent. In this weeks Kentish Gazette, one of the Canterbury local papers, it was reported that the junction of Patrixbourne Road and the A2 at Bridge has now been officially declared an accident "Black Spot'. : ~ As much as I would like to suggest that the appropriate signs should be erected to indicate the dangers at this point, I will withdraw any such suggestions in the knowledge that Bridge has been treated as a "special case" in recent months. We have had 'Road Narrows? and "Reduce Speed Now' signs placed on the approaches to the village, - together with 40 mepsh. limits, and yellow bar markings laid on Bridge Hill. For all of these measures we are grateful that at least some attempt has been made to safeguard villagers, although nothing can ever substitute the early completion of the much-needed by~pass. There are now two important points which I would like to raises Firstly, the 30/40 mepehe limits on the inner approaches to the village are of the type suitable for illumination. I am somewhat surprised that the electrical installation has not yet been carried out, and wish to enquire as to when it is proposed to do this? Secondly, I have been in communication with Mr. Finbow of the Regional Controller's office at Guildford concerning the provision of Bar Markings on Town Hill. I understand that there were with the side roads, but would have thought that the Department ime enough to have solved this. Over two months have now passeé since the bars were laid on Bridge Hill, and I would mention that the measure of their success lies in the fact that not a single accident has occurred since their introduction, : Yours sincerely, Bm A. ie ; Brian A. lewias Sec/Treasurer, A2 Group, CeCe David Crouch Esqe,lieP. BY-PASS: STATE YOUR VIEWS RESIDENTS in Har- bledown and Rough Common are to take part in the second referendum } organized by their « County Councillor John Heddle. tH, ; During this week / Clir. Heddle will be Y distributing several thousand letters ask- ing people to state their views on the Canterbury by-pass routes. These views will be analysed and present- ed by Cllr. Heddle to the county council, and Canterbury M.P. Mr. David Crouch. = Cllr. Heddle’s first referendum was over the Channel Tunnel question. He received 2,000 replies on this occasion. Here Mr. John Heddle (left) and members of the pub- lic study a model ot the proposed Canter- bury by-pass on display at the Bea- ney. CA 1201 1974 KENTISH OBSERVER | kh ee ha BA BD Order yours from your Newsagent - TODAY A2 GROUP CANTERBURY BY-PASS | | A public discussion meeting will be held at The County Hotel, High Street, Canterbury | on Thursday December 6th at 8 p.m. KCC, Canterbury and Bridge-Blean officials | will be present to answer points raised. HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU? + | *ublished by The A2 Group, 1 High Street, Bridge | tinted by A. & J, Purchese, Cow Lane, Canterbury ih } | From: David Crouch, M.P. 4 u HOUSE OF COMMONS LONDON SWIA OAA December 5,1973 Nex V Sheen, On my return from my visit to India and Bangladesh, my secretary gave me your message about the meeting tomorrow evening about the Canterbury by-pass. I much regret that I am unable to attend,because of Parliamentary business | and I have sent Brian Lewis a short statement which can be read out at the meeting. Tas we, John Purchese,isq., Mill Cottage, Bekesbourne, Canterbury, Kent. iY | Statement for the Meeting a tet Canterbury on Dec egw xn Cth, i973, ue ee HOUSE OF COMMONS LONDON SWIA OAA CANTERBURY BY-PASS I very much regret that I am unable to attend tonight's meeting to discuss the Canterbury by-pass. One of the reasons for the Minister's decision to invite public discussion and comment on the by- pass proposals was because of the genuine concern ..the Government feel that the residents of Canterbury and the surrounding area should have their voice heard at the planning stage. I welcome this as an innovation in involving the public in a major planning ~ ecision. The view of the individual may quite aturally be. subjective and personal and it is therefore of particular value that your meeting will provide a forum for discussion of all points of view. I shall look forward to receiving a report of this consultation with great interest and will be pleased to discuss it with the Minister. DAVID CROUCH BACK OFF play it cool, and be satisfied with the gains already in hand. Don’t force a. show- down with the Government (writes Paul Bloomer). ‘That was Cllr, Mike Fuller's advice over the City Council's move to ban ts from. 4 the Ab eeugh Ceakersey \ He warned that the Depart- © ment of the Enyironment could not allow the lorry ban — and a facedown with the was likely to lead ' to delay in starting the A2 southern by-pass scheduled for 1976. wa ‘ Members of the council's, == ¥. evils begquberg Ie hog tt xia apewly fete mili abla seul ining US 2 mural vity b Ste: tbe Public Works Committee met on Tuesday to discuss latest aspects of the authority’s pos- sible 1973 New Dover Road to Rheims Way (Weight and Size Restriction) Order, in the mel- ting pot. Deputy Town Clerk, Mr. Keith Hunt, presented mem- bers with a list of many objec- tors to the order. He advised that the Department of the Environment had asked for no action to be taken on the order kA An until any decision reached had been relayed to the Mini ster, Mr. John Peyton. #3 Mr. Hunt drew attention to the objection lodged by lorry operators ,Kent’ County Coun cil, neighbouring district authorities, and the police REASONABLE “Evidently reasonable” ob. jections from sources such as bus companies could easily be incorporated by exemptions from the ban,he added. The Town Clerk had reached the “‘inescapable con- clusion’’ that it would be unreasonable to proceed with the order, Mr.Hunt advised. The Minister might issue a arbledown by-pass -— A2 Group factory than through Harble- Drop Har THE Government has been called on by the A2 Group to abandon the £3 million plan for a Harbledown by- ' pass in favour of the early effect that a-by-pass of Can- ~ . down.” The completion of a new relief SERED prone bea Peer tac Cllr Payne urges the de- | ecuye Anal the: geynetl did road, for Canterbury. through Harbledown, and ‘partment: “In view of the abet pei ew until Fe that the Harbledown pro-» need’to restrain unnecessary tas the matte d been held ‘The group is holding a pub- posal should’ be | deferred public expenditure, preserve s The problemrof heavy vehicles on the road could be transferred to other ‘routes if the traffic were diverted. “The advice; really, is that this has gone about as far as it can with any advantage to the council,’’ said Mr. Hunt. “From now on, the balance swings the other way — that the council starts to get into agricultural land and some of the finest countryside within sight of the Cathedral, will you give every consideration to the abandonment of the Harbledown scheme in favour of early completion of the Canterbury by-pass? “A public) inquiry into, the Canterbury proposal, which will admit evidénce on the lic meeting to examine the Canterbury by-pass routes in the ‘design and construction _the County Hotel on Thurs- of thestanterbury by-pass. day at 8 pm. Canterbury's Ks MP, Mr David Crouch, city “in his repor€P the inspec- councillors and officers from tor agreed. with, the objec- the County Council and the tions to the, Harbledown by- Department of the Environ- pass," but ,recommended. its ment are being invited to construction because the de- attend. partment had given no pending .a firm decijsion on for the Goyern- evidente of their intention to “4 riba pont pase DHOrIty te the. puild’a: Canterbury by-pass, . Harbledown problem, is’ des- the difficult position. Can’ ury by-pass is © con- ne perately needed. At the same PROMOTE i Ls time, will the department “Mr Peyton has stated pub- licly that he has 1976 in mind tained in a letter sent with the group’s backing to the publish its transportation and road network policy for East This was particularly so, Department of the Environ- as ‘a sturting date for the Kent?” since Mr. Peyton had visited ment by Clir-Tony Payne. Canterbury by eee with Canterbury and had said ie aye completion by 1978. is is would do all he cot 0 pro- ae = Fy ie faa ine tine only two years after the pro- mote a by-pass, he concluded. Piathindoem by-pass! inquiry niece opening “of! a very Cllr. Chris Stanley blamed yet ft ed ee expensive (nearly £4 million) the Government for not pro- phe Raper eS ‘pemb ingle 2nd environmentally destruc- viding adequate roads to deal that tis, Pater Re nicaieen tive single carriageway which with the traffic. Pressing on See Onavk muisetul Uiféeas'a creates.a8 many problems as | with the order might speedup & would eps _ pars Whhe west. it solves and which has been six years earlier than it other- sane eather tt after the described by the department wise would have been. He ern Bide Cxtpne: city’ as an ‘interim measure.’ recalled Mr. Peyton had opening of the Canterbury the point that’ any alae) by-pass. 7 including holdin; B ‘Now at last, in the Con- e ig a long public J "He ntinues: “At the sultative Document, you have inquity” could put pia ‘Harbledown inquiry this was. agreed) that a route to the tarting date. city by way of a Wincheap radial road from the Canter- bury by-pass is more satis- ef Clr. Fisher did not think - making the restriction order would delay the start of build- ing a by-pass - but he felt disputed by myself and the Canterbury Society. Evidence was also given...to the Lorry ban dry * the building of a by-pass he said. 2 ; ak amen | 8 ‘fee! providing a by-pass, andurged © that the. council should con- getting this started by 1976 was ‘ruddy big hope.” 'y Clr, Stanley stressed that there no isés for the! protest Bridge-Blean Council has lodged an Seuneil's to Canterbur ye to ban controversia Pine ‘a2 within vgernauts from ihe city boundaries: pt Bridge-Blean Is opposed 2 eel scheme Decale Givert heavy n wo ; the pon to inadequate a ry roads on all sides of ke More TEAC lorries overweight A lorry load of: spaghetti got a haulage tiene tangled up with the law on Friday. The lorry, owned by C. and L._ International Haulage Ltd, of 79a Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, and carrying the load from Dover to Bedford, was_ stopped in Canterbury on. June 26. It was taken to the Kingsmead Road weighbridge and found to be 1 ton 12 cwt_above the permitted limit, Canterbury magistrates heard on Friday. The firm was fined £40, with £10 costs: In a letter, the firm accep- ted full responsibility and said that the driver could not be held responsible as misleading’ paperwork had led him to believe his load was the correct weight. Five other firms and their drivers weré fined for: over- weight lorries between June 5 and July 17: George Mar- chant, of 88 Bentry Road, Dagenham, Essex (excess 1 ton 7 cwt), £20; Robert Slater, of 48 Greenwood Ave- nue, Dagenham (1 ton 12 cwt), £20; H. A. Harrison Transport Services, of No 4 Warehouse, East India Dock, London (four tons), £40, with £10 ‘costs. John Woods, T/A Zero Freights, of 190 Monoghan Road, Armagh, Northern Ire- land (1 ton 5 cwt), £40, with £10 costs; Stanley Wheeldon, of 3 Fearson Green, Norton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs (2 tons 2 cwt), £40, with £10 costs. lp SATURDAY ‘DECEMBER 8 1973 Registered at the Post Newspaper) The giant transporter is named after an Indian deity which. | also claimed human lives By JAMES NORTHEY* THE giant Continental lorries that have been dubbed ‘jug- gernauts’ are, oddly enough, named after an idol of that name representing the Hindu god, Vishnu. There seems nothing tre- motely religious about the vehicles that. are currently causing fear on our roads— especially in places such as the Kent village of Bridge, where one of these monsters, a tanker Carrying inflammable chemi- cals, ploughed into a dozen cars and narrowly (and: merci- fully) missed’ a crowd of children playing nearby, Mau then, you may well SK, is the connection? ‘The Astes Mportant annual Hindu in gl Rathayatra, which waiieg: Tet June or July (it Bae ike the date of our Saster) at Puri, a city on the ‘ay of Bengal, ‘outh-west of Cal- temple ae the seat of the Ja Ju; 4gannath (or 1p e8etnaut) which was built iy As part of the°festivities the image of Juggernaut is carried in a car so massive and heavy that hundreds of devotees are needéd to moye it to the garden house of the god. Although this is only two miles from. the temple, it takes several days to complete’ the journey. Look like dwarfs The vehicle is 43 feet high and each of its 16 wheels is Official ‘Organ of The Salvation. Army readily see that the juggernauts on our roads would look like dwarfs at the side of this maxi- monster! ’ It does not need any stretch of the imagination to see that, with the need for the Jugger- naut’s car to be hauled by so many followers of Vishnu and with thousands of pilgrims flocking around it, there must be accidents with loss of life, There: may even have been deliberate suigides, Whilst it has been: said that WILLIAM BOOTH, Founder 2G ong § A fleet of juggernauts tries to negotiate road-works in a narrow London street to. Vishnuism there-are con flicting reports about this. One source says’ that reports that many of the pilgrims in the procession accompanying ‘the image’s car have, in the past, thrown, themselves. under. the gigantic wheels, __ sacrificing themselves ito-the god in. the hope of securing for them- selves a place in heaven, are grossly exaggerated. Yet another tells that. the British, then rulers in India, had to prohibit the practice. ERIK WICKBERG, General i JUGGERNAUTS— BEWARE! living*or, even the. sacrifice of his life—can deal with his sins. Sins cannot successfully be fought; they need to be forgiven. Only God Himself can ‘unlock the gate of heaven, and let us in’, and also. give us. that-> heayenton, earth” of pardon, inner peace and ‘power which we all yeam for. automatic possessors Of course, the “free will” bit still applies. By Christ’s offer- ing of His own life, we are not HN == A of counell's Mic Works mR = Fon behind a ‘ Was told . matter out as far as it we any advantage NI ‘Town Crk, pe Nos ee Warmed that pte Won a the terdu RE his bast to expedite the AG the committer is he introduction On heavy lorries their wy through centre. Sommittee chairman? lker, said: Mr Pey- mdertaken to per nning heart told the com- he had of ba heavy trafic from the = sban. These Arms, the East in- Kent bus company, Kent County Coun- i neighbouring councils. cul ang NOT IN FAVOUR The bus company could probal be made an excep- tion to arder, but in view of the weight ang nature of were not of the idea. foes an titer © council. might open itse! to a char of making un- use of i = ts statu. Mr Hunt added. tocke que ae seems qu a able — that while vehicles are a tery po “That a nuisance and a dan- at least as any other an he Councillors and officials di ry and was | had u Sonatly guide the council on | uestion to the | transport | Minister, Mr Hunt warned that if an onter was made, the Minister might make a diree: tive that the council should sovk his consent re im plementing it, and this would Almost certainly mean a pubs Ne inquiry would have to be held before anything could be done, “This would put the coun- els ofMeers in a difficult position, because they would | de duty bound to give their | honest” opinions. And those could not technically support a ban.” Ce Erie Hanscombd § said that outsize vehicles were both dangerous and lethal in or out of the city, But cowld the council make such Aan onler without the Minis ter's cansent? he asked, Mr Hunt reptied that it could, but it might still be chatlonged in the courts, — have always been a lit see eng We would be able :to put a ban into effect,” said Ar Hanscomb, _ | Cur Chris Stanley _ pro- | tested: “I think we should lay the blame where the dlame_rests, and that is with the Government. We not asked for these lorries ) to come through our city. If they think they should come | through this part of the country they should design roads suitable to take them. } “I think all the while we ee eS Would have to be that they | as to whether | have | John Peyton, who made p ng a visit to the city lase month, | Work the personal ) his opposition ean the pressure up the change “ ing up the bynpeag WIL de increased, Un Fisher said the counell gs! ute ahead and make the or: “We cannot real “A Worse position, If we pull out now It looks as th . Wo have gone chicken and the Government wil * » fair enough, we will, Our foet on the ITS ACTIONS cur “Fulior said that throught Ne actions in the past, the council had man- ) aged to secure assurances from the Government about | the byspass, which — repre~ sented agyvery real gain for he le of Canterbury, on the by-pass was / now due to start in 1976, in- | stead of the 1980s as had / been scheduled But it was quite clear that they could not make the omer succeed, because cen- trat Government would step in and say they could not go ahead with it without the approval of the Minister. This would onl¥ force a confrontation situation be- tween the council and central Government, while what was needed at © moment was for the council to press as fast as ssible for the by- Pass, and not to encourage people in the area to press | for a possible inquiry info the | by-pass proposals. Any, sort of delay that Stopped the by-pass fromuet- ting under way in 1976 would be held against the council, he added. Cur Fisher said he had not got the impression that if 9 Public inquiry was held it Would put back the by-pass. “E do not see where the two go together.” CUr Stanley added: “If we back out now we will not have any arms left in our armoury.” They could achieve more by going ahead with their plans Cur Fuller returned to Cllr Fisher's point about the re. lationship between the by- Pass and the ban. “It is very difficult when you are in the middle of a hard-fought con- frontation with Govern- ment rtiment. to ©o-oper- ate to the fullest possible ex- tent with them over the by- pass.” . He said the © committee recammend the coun- to proceed with a lorry ban. hut to ask that its top priority to ~ council and sive to make an order. | Single carriagew IT WOULD be insanity to build the Canterbury by-pass single carriageway, a public meeting on the road _pro- Js was told on Thurs- day. No-one» in their right minds should, contemplate such a thing for a major road like the,” said Cllr Less people turned up for ng, anised by the oup, and some had e time a vote te B=-which the De- "Rou ent of the Environment says has the least disadvant- ages and wes, runs. through ngton ore swinging Wass of Winters Farm, Nackington — came top with 21 votes. . C—the Route most of Alf Walker, chairman ‘of- City Council's Ub ly Committee. ae eu | W273 ay by-pass would be insanity Ay Gee: of the three, which Ss both the City Arch’ the City Engineer cel 10 votes. Route a would run closest. —did not get any su Those who voted in Ort. by been given ay ict ‘and ‘avour Route included ale Cc PATHETIC Many present were con- cerned over the department’s: seeming single-carriageway One man said it was “pathetic to even suggest it” main trunk route by-pass of a major city. insistence for a by-pass. for a Cllr Fisher said no-one in their right minds should con- Beiels ute a single-carriage- ‘It's insane to propose Mor thing. If we are going to do’a job, we have got to do it property. rhe He thought that Route C was probably the best of the three; if properly constructed it would be the least ob- trusive, Mrs Wendy Le-Las Jones, of the Kent branch of the Conservation Society, asked if it was really a sound in- ment torspend vast sums of money on roads which, be- cause of the fuel crisis, might be redundant in a few years to come. “What's the point of build- ing roads for juggernauts if eting organized by pce publ r for spire Ds talks on the by-pass don the plan to | Harble- down, a @ Scheme extmated at 4 Tony. Payne. has ‘sent a pee epee Department outlin plea | the need to restrain ete em essary public expenditure: ) VOnsaturdey members of Canterbury's Public Works _ Committee are to make a ‘‘walk “about” inspection of the pro- “Desedby-passroutes. \ Tunnel? Channel ene Tunnel wee “What do we prevent Kent fi ave to do to m becoming _a highway to ‘Europe, with ‘cars and Juggernauts from all over Britain hi ading for the |, tiny village of Cheriton and _the mouth of the Channi el It is not too late to adopt the: sensible and | alternative |’ of civilised linking the _ tunnel directly to our national {rail system and doing away - with the need for a rail/road | for cars to drive on < | 5 Church Road, 4 Tunbridge Wel 8. terminal. | This would make it possib le o train ferries in big cities all over. the country and be carried straight into Europe. And it. 'would keep Kent free from ‘the threat’ of a ‘flood of) vehicles. + The Goverinent of bull- lans through | in the ope that N have ‘dozing its ated lal eypepple of Kent wi time to organise though ful oppposition. still time ‘to__ac’ t- ut there is and the Defenders of Kent’ are taking steps to do SO. “The most important Hoa to petition Soph, ment. are Brepanine the individual Syhowt our Preps can. First, the and most urgent. urge their MP Government : present | pier an devastating effect it,¥ on_the whole of. \ Second, they. c: Defenders of K scribing towards we need to pr mt am publicise our ‘case. Finally, we “would, like | to. near from yoluntee! Yin every ‘town and. village in Kent who are prepared to ©: ise a bonfire on a night to be arranged when we aim to sig- ‘nal in the traditional fashion (the threatened invasion of "our county, "Those who are willing to fi mt) in this ie ir name, phone 1 number to me here. TED ALLBEURY. "(the Defenders ‘of Kent) should send ress and tele- | | ] they don’t have am rol to run on?” she ‘asked. a She felt the answer was to look at transport as a whole, and encourage freight, on to the railways. “We should put everything on the railways and not have to ae money | on new homes ani ‘building Wert) that the ecrtae run nto. Mr Brian Lewis, the A2 Group secretary, said it was estimated that by- ble traffic in 1991 would be be- tween 8,000 and 11,000 vehicles a day. “oy wa way | “To my way of thinking this is rou” he said. “We have conducted traffic censuses in Bridge and we res that the traffic u .is some- thing ové ‘vehicles a day. The nent of the inrironmente thinks that _b; the introduction of the Mid- Kent they are going luction of traffic BP iy “But is “shortsighted. That route is much longer~ and where ‘itis open, and when wi thardl enc Channel Tunnel, thor etic will use the oe “ The last in ar faa dest nation gcensusy: ‘carried % the plans” for: the by- been p' the Di = ment of — a jronment’s Reeehwere ts) ineers Boye | coun’ more infor- ead thai ava’ ee the public. “4 we va a AS Farmers. should | be. aren | every chance for complete consultation over «the ro: before any arate ra St OrORn was ‘made, Mr. Tony Mi _ of Winters Farm, "Nackington, told the meeting. ; a tS “Obviously. a’ lot. ‘of ob- jections will come from the farmers,” said Mr Mount, senior vice-chairman of the | Canterbury. branch of the National Farmers’ Union. “But if there was con-— sultation at least e of these objections could be ‘avoided. 4 5 “Farmers are_ to, ‘accept the need for this road. They. don’t like losing land but, as long as it is necessary, ‘they will put up’ ywith it” The meeting was held in the County Hotel. CLLR. TONY PAYNE — con- cerned about traffic. CLLR. MIKE FULLER — described meeting with Transport Minister. were f He was disappointed that the consultative document had not suggested linking the A28 and the by-pass to sy- phon-off incoming traffic on the A28. This would have been useful, both from traffic, and enyi- CTE IFCCS, IVE - 9G ‘Biers Mhought, taking into consideration the increased traffic in Wincheap due. to Gevelopment of the indust- vial estate . ONE-WAY He wondered whether Win- cheap, as a through route, could be made one-way out of the city? This would avoid the need for the Wincheap Radial — which would be most disruptive to amenities — and would help channel traffic along the by-pass, and then from Harbledown Flashback to the Ken- tish Observer’s front page of 8 November, revealing exclusively the three Canterbury by-pass routes. Mem- eur tie, AL OTOUD want route ‘B’ while city architect Mr. John Berbiers is) backing the longest ‘anda most expensive, route ‘C’. Meeting back MEMBERS of the A2 Group, together with members of the public, came down heavily in favour of route ‘B’ for the new city by- pass. They reached their decision at a public meeting held at the County Hotel, Canterbury, on ‘Thursday. Route ‘B’ would skirt deve- lopment planned to the south of Canterbury. The Depart- ment of the Environment’s consultative document on the by-pass said that it would also leave a viable area of agricul- tural land between the by-pass Which is the best route for the Canterbury by-pass? City councillors. and members of the A2 Group met representa- tive of Kent County"Council on Thursday at a public meeting to consider this. Left to right (sifting): Mr. Alan Badger, Planning Department, Mr. Donaid Coote, Clerk’s Department, Mr."Afan Bullit, Roads Department, Cmd. A.E.P. Doran, Chairman of the Roads Committee, and Mr. Alan Smith, Surveyor. Standing, left to right: Mr. John Purchese, Chairman of the A2 Group Mr. Brian Leis, secretary and treasurer of the group, and Clir. Mike Fuller, ‘and the city. There would be a -cost (at 1972 prices) of £3,300,000 to build a single carriageway and £5 million for a dual carriage- way. Eighteen houses and one shop would have to be demolished if route ‘B’ were used. Eighty-seven acres of agricultural land would be taken. It was described in the con- sultative document as’ good value for money, a short route of by-passable traffic, which local traffic could also ‘use, and leaving adequate green belt for the city. The one disadvantage listed was the inevitable housing loss. ‘ . Civil engineer Mr.*Ian Gracie claimed.that the’ pro- posals shown ‘in the ‘library confused people trying to decide which route to choose. He said that they should, be given a Department of the Environment figure for Route *C’ including’ the -Wincheap Radial. One of the advantages of Route ‘C’ — passing» to the south of development along the A28 at Thanington; and avoid- ing ribbon development in Newhouse Lane and Nacking- ton Road — as set out in the consultative document, was that the demolition of property was avoided. Mr. Gracie added that with industrial development at Win- cheap, the Wincheap Radi: was essential. Mr. Fraser described the proposals as half-baked .solu- tions which could be “gut of . date in 10 or 15 years'time. He said that he would like to “Ssee a reasonably straight dual carriageway, linking up some- where in the Stour Valley. A Harbledown by-pass was not route ‘RB? necessary if there was a prop- er interchange in the Stour Valley. The .consultative document forecast that the ring road would carry between 8,000'and 11,000. vehicles a day by 1991. Secretary and treasurer of the group, Mr. Brian Lewis, described this estimate as “rot” by VAL HILL He said they knew that at peak times the A2 carried 20,000 vehicles a day. Even when the mid-Kent motorway was. built, TIR’s would con- , tinue to use the A2. It was‘ time that! another origin and destination survey be conducted. Mr. ‘Lewis ex- plained that the last one’ con- cerning Canterbury was car- ried out two or: three-years ago. Cllr. Tony, Payne. said that he was concerned about the enormous amount of traffic on the trunk road. Eight-and-a- half per cent. ofthe traffic.on the road were heavy lorries. . A representative of the Canterbury Sodiety said that it Seemed to be* dual versus single carriageway for the by+ *), pass. He explained that even if a single carriageway were constructed, enough land would have to be acquired to turn it intoa dual carriageway in the future: ; preferable to down by-pass. S: * Cllr. Mike Fuller’ said that when city councillors. met the Transport Minister, Mr. John Peyton, they made the point that there were more ‘heavy lorries on the road than‘would be expected ona trunk road. A dual carriageway was: essential so that cars could overtake these lorries. The. question of timing was also. discussed with Mr. Pey- ton, -he- continued. The Mini- ster had said that if agreement were reached fairly quickly, work might begin on the road by 1976. | The A2 Group Chairman: Hon. Secretary/Tree : , John Purchese, Brian A. Let ; ‘a “ee Mill Cottage, Bekesbourne, — 1 High Street,. Canterbury, Kent ». Canterbury, IE NN ae We care about the A2 Trunk road to Dover from the M2 2 Please reply to;- | 22 The Foreland, Canterbury. 2011.75 David Crouch, lisgs si. Ps 5 House of Commons, London,S. Wel. Dear Mr.CGrouch, a IT am writing to you about one particular aspect of the lorry/A2 situation - the inadequate signposting of through routes. Several times I have raised this matter with Canterbury City Council, but have been disappointed with their reaction.I believe that rofie signposting along trunk roads is the responsibility of the Ministry with local authorities acting insaan advisory capacity.iven then, the Council could show greater interest in the problem, At the country end of the M2,only Dover,Canterbury and | Margate are signposted.Throughout the length of the improved A2 and : the motorway there is no indication of routes to Folkestone or Ramsgate, in spite of their developing TIR ferry services,Although the A2,li2z and Thanet Way is the main route from the rest of the Country to Ramsgate, the latter is not signposted until at the St. Nicholas-at-Wade roundabout.Also,in spife of the Ministry maintaining that the AzO is the official main road to Folkestone,many TIR drivers understandably prefer the faster,safer , improved Ao/Me route, especially in view of its superior exit from London and 4ts better links with the national road system. When @rivers reach the first Rheims Way roundabout (St.Peter's Place) in Canterbury,only Dover is indicated on the route sign,and more remarkable is the absence of any local signs.As a result, TIRs find their way to the Westgate and the narrow Pound Lane and get entangled in the city's one#way system, Similarly lorries with destinations HUNDREDS of Canterbury householders can breathe again — it now seems certain their homes will be saved from: the bulldozers. Canterbury homes or property are unlikely to be demolished to make way for the city by- pass. Councillors agreed on Tuesday night to slap a letter on the Minister’s desk in 21 days asking for Route C. a Councillors unanimous | city residents in their appeal { Most | could have been bulldozed to make Way for RoutesAorB. —. ‘The Minister has asked for the thest from urged un council’s comments on the pro- Minister, Mr.-Jo posed routes for the by-pass by 4 January and it seems certain he will get a request for a dual carriageway version of Route C. But Ald. Herbert Buckworth warned members of the Public Works and Planning and Deve- lopment Committees that he had heard that Kent County Council | favour the routes nearer to the city. sf have heard that the county planning officer and surveyor pressed for a dual carriageway by-pass. Although the City Council’s decision is net final, it will bring a sigh of relief from hundreds of , should be further out.” ‘Graphic design student Brian Glanfiela (left) sho, show have prepare at Council urge Route 'C’ favour route B. And they say that routes A and B merit the closer examination.” But both the city engineer and architect spoke Of route C as being the only viable route. Engineer Mr. John Rhodes sal ‘Route’A is unthinkable,it comes much too close to the city. Route B imposes a massive highway on the city; a by-pass City architect Mr. John Ber- biers said: ‘I favour route C every time. It is further away from the city and gives room for development.” The councillors: voted unani- “to accept the’ officer: route would seem to be route C: Cc He added that a viaduct, which eB would be a necessary part of 7¥ : % f & fac | route C, if properly designed Jf Bt P Ste could be as attractive a feature , ‘irr Visitors view the giant model of the A2 between Faversham of the landscape as Medway bricge. ae and Dover on show at the Canterbury College of Art. 3 (CAL) en REPU ETE VET by by Pauline Rush In Roman ,times traders faced massive fines for put- ting too much weight on the carts trundling up and down Watling Street. But today, on that same road, the penal- ties for juggernauts breaking weight limits are negligible compared to the profits from overloading. That is just one of the many points made in an ex- hibition at Canterbury Col- lege of Art, mounted by graphic design students to show the difficulties and dan- gers facing people who live beside the A2 and those who travel on it. Models, posters, films and photographs were used to ‘Mr Julian Losinski part of the A2 exhibition they ‘Canterbury Hospital. On COT shore ok 2) a Ne was = RAN Polo. ae Yours ~ Storatlag Sohn Vodau0od. VEC IE Gabe ES cLENE EWEN TREE STSCI hi) Rg ca a illustrate their case, and. to stress the need for immediate improvements to this treach- erous stretch of road, which the A2 Group has ealled the “Bridletrack to Europe.” The idea of holding an ex- hibition was first mooted by Mr Peter Sullivan, head of the college’s Graphic Design School. He heard about a conference to be held at Kent and Canterbury Hospital about after-care for road ac- cident patients and thought it might be possible to stage some sort of exhibition to run in conjunction with the conference. The hospital agreed to the idea and it was decided to turn over the whole of the Graphic Design School to a project on the A2 for a term. Mr _ Sullivan’s deputy, Mr Roy Chambers, said that they had tried to cover all aspects of the A2 and give a clear | picture of the problems in- | volved with it. “We are not trying to push a particular point. We just wanted to find out exactly what the current situation is, and people’s attitudes to it,” he said. tae WO So about 100 students set to work to produce a com- prehensive survey of. Kent’s most controversial road. They went out and talked to people who live along the. A2 and to traders a ical their py The ye Speakers from the Ke: Trust for Nature Conserva- tion, the A2 Group and other organisations visited. th lege to help the students their work and the Depart- ment of the ee at agreed to loan them ment for the éxhibition. SeGaties east to be | lected a is again pose problems. Figures obtained from surveys are soon out of date and statistics fro: ferent sources vary | Constant. checking and re- checking were ess gees e focal point of the ex- hibition was a_ larg le ‘model of the A2 from Brenley | thoughts Corner to Dover, built by vocational stu- | second i dents. Hye-catening and \col- ourful, the model- the major — pecident ts along a Guambers said it 5 informative rather A ifs. scale. A figures played in detail. They showed five people were A2 and 79 were | Yo mola OAL vo Coniston ict oe ere’ Ss) tly th tal deaths Re 14-1293 Students study bridle way to Europe pinnalaceds : problem has become. Every day 20,000 vehicles use the A2 and 2,000 of these are juggernauts. Pictures of Bridge High Street before the rush hour showed only the TIR monsters rumbling through the village. A pedestrian interviewed said she was afraid to walk on the pavement and some people complained that if you lived on the A2 it was too noisy to use the front rooms. Bue pe as spores side to the problem. pamphlet produced by one of the third year students took a look at. the A2 as seen bv the lorry drivers. “It’s one of the worst roads in England I’ve ever travellec on,” said one | > i | Others complained about the. narrow winding streets in the villages where it is al-| most impossible for two TIRs to pass safely and many com- mented on the tight round- aan .in Canterbury. Acci ents often occur there be- told the students. P Fie f > . Other subjects covered _ ‘the exhibition —_ includ studies of the effects of e | and traffic fumes on plants and BG and t7gida 2 caused to agricultural land by the present road and for by-pass OPINION is split over the best route for the ‘proposed Re 13 Opinions split bald ¥ nl multi-million pound Canterbury by-pass. A joint meeting of the Gity Council’s Planning and Works committees on Tuesday chose route C — costly and most southerly of the three proposed. ' But a public meeting in Canterbury. last week chose route B,— which the Depart- ment of the Environment says ‘has the ‘least dis- yah aber: which cee rough anington before swi south of Winter’s Farm, Nackington, The ‘City Council is certain to accept the findings of its committees and tell _ the Minister that route C is the, one it wants. In_turn, the new Canterbury District rose Gatkoe hinted that it tle most to enor 1e route chosen by e City Council. met It took members of the two committees just 20 minutes to reach their decision on Tues- day. The City Engineer, Mr John Rhodes, and the City Archi- tect, Mr John Berbiers, had produced reports reconimend- ing route C ; Explained’ Mr Rhode's:’ “Route A is far too close to the city, and route B is get- ting much too near as well. Route C does leave.a certain amount of freedom and’ does. not impose itself, Even } mile from the city centre is no | great distance.” et ya ve A LINK-UP- 2 Mr Berbiers said the other point about route C was the possible intrusion on the land=" scape of the viaduct: “But. a viaduct, if well designed, can, be quite attractive. It could well add to the landscape by having a well-designed via- duct there,” he said. Cllr Mike Fuller said that another objection raised it] against route C was that did not provide for a link- with a Wincheap radial.” » Said Mr Rhodes: “I don’t’ think you would have any. problem with a link up on! route C.” He suggested an origin and destination survey of traffic using the Canterbury to Ash- ford road should be taken to find out where the traffic was coming from and heading to. “Then you would be able to. The joint committee decided to recommend that route G is the best; that a connection’’ between the road and the A28 should be investigated; that’ farmers should be allowed. early consultation over the” proposals; that an origin and | destination survey of the A28 is desirable and that the road, when built, should} be dual- carriageway, oat Fewer than 40 people ‘at- tended last Thursday’s public meeting at the County Hotel, organised “as an opinion sounding board by the A2 Group. When a vote was taken, 21 supported route B, 10 voted for route’C and nobody was in favour of route A, which runs closest to Canterbury. Those who voted in favour of Route C included Cllr | Kent ! Public most evelopment Alf Walker, chairmaf/of the City Council's ‘Public’ Works Committee. od eT | Many present were , con- cerned over the department's seeming insistence’s for a single-carri ay py] ji One man said it wast‘pathetic to even suggest it” for a main trunk route by-pass of a major city. 2 Cllr Fisher, said no-one in their right minds showid;con- template a single-earriage- way. “It’s insane to,propose such a thing. If we aresgoing to do a job; we haveygot to do-it properly.” aisas He. thought : that, ite C was probably the besttof; the three; if properly con: cted. its;would be the jleast ob- trusive. gate. Mrs Wendy Le-Las};gones, of the Kent branchs,of, the Conservation _ Society,x,asked if it was really a/sound, in- vestment to spend sums of; money on roads. ich, be- cause of the fuel crisis,might be redundant in a few,years to come. a oy ““What’s the point of, puild- ing roads for juggernauts if they don’t have any petrol to run on?” she asked. ~~ . She felt the answer was to ok at transport as a whole, encourage freight on to the! railways. “We should put everything on the railways and not have to spend money n’new homes and re-building "shops that the lorries run Anto.” s r Brian Lewis, the A2 Group secretary, said it was estimated that by-passable traffic in 1991 would) be be- tween 8,000 and 11,000 vehicles a‘day. Sy “To my way of thinking | this is rot,” he said/We have ‘conducted traffic censuses in ‘Bridge and we know that the traffic using the A2‘is: some- thing” over. 20,000 ‘vehicles a day. The Department’ of the Environment thinks ~th the introduction’ of: t! motorway they* are ging to see.a reduction of traffic on the A2,/-2 » “But that is shortsighted. That route is. much’ longer and» when it is “open, and when we have the Channel Tunnel, more-traffic will use the A2/M2 route.” )). The last origin ‘afid~desti- nation “' census Had been carried out tw6'or three years ago, he’ said,. another was needed ) Bet more up-to-date ‘information. “In my yiew the bulk of the traffic does not ‘stopin’ Can- penetrate 0°B0 O atTAent gested, it wants.to-go straight through.” aan an a Kent County % Council's Deputy Surveyor,” Mr Alan Smith, erect ue an origin and destination survey was needed. He pointed out that the plans for the by-pass had! prepared by the Depart- Continued on page 18 _ Increase a - in lorries tent of the Environment's | consultant engineers and the had little more infor- on than was available to he public. y eciiers shouldbe given every. chance for: complete consultation over the road before any draft order was made, Me Tony . Mount, of Winters Farm, Nackington, told the meeting. “Obviously a ‘lot of. ob-) jections. will come from the farmers,” ‘said “Mr, Mount, senior vice-chairman of, the Canterbury . branch of the National Farmers’ i i j f A dramatic increase of 46.40 er cent in the number of uggernauts passing throu, hed is jbsMaceld Bi i: Ee jetober res publish fe the larbour Board. Altogether 52,284 lorries were ied on the cross-Channel ferries that month, In the 10-month period to, October the total number of lorries was 154,479, a 19,49 per cent increase over the same period last year. The passenger-car traffic also increased with the port dling. er cent more passe get fF 5,983,081 and cars were tp by .81 per cent at 950,118. “But if there was early con- sultation at least somé of these objections could! Be avoided. ries “Farmers are preva oan accept the need for this’ rodd- They don’t like losing “jand | put, as long as it is necessary, | they will put up with it/** The meeting was het ‘County Hotel. pins new “District: Cotincil’s “Committee"“has de- ‘cidet “would probably be" best to follow any decision taken by the City Council over the road. The aa Policy Union.| City Council is being told by | two of its top officers. that route C is the best. |» .On_ Saturday members of the District Council toured the three proposed routes. Afterwards, the council leader, Cllr Arthur Porter, said: “We held the tour because many council mem- bers, particularly those from Whitstable and Herne Bay, are not \familiar’ with the plans or the area. ‘ “We felt that before we could even consider it, it would be helpful to see the routes and the problem. “When we discussed this at the Policy Committee we felt ‘that as the Canterbury councillors had studied this in so much depth it would be presumptuous to make such a decision for them.” “We felt that. probably the best solution would be for the District Council to go along with the Canterbury decision, but of course the final ex- pression of our policy will be made when the new council Hives oa secon ber 20.” added that it appeared to him that Route C Ned the best of the three alternatives. It certainly has its ad- vantages, particularly in the way it keeps the road well || away from Canterbury itself.” a path to “IT’S NOT the road to Europe, it’s the road to Eternity,” said a Dover church minister of the A2 last year. Three soldiers had just been crushed to death in their car by a juggernaut lorry under Watersend Bridge, ‘near. Lydden. ‘ The southernmost 22 miles of the A2, from Boughton Street via Canterbury to Dover, are perhaps the most embattled stretch’ of highway in Britain. The road is narrower now than it was in Roman times, yet some six mil- lion vehicles—about one in ten is a heavy lorry—plough their. moisesome way through “its: towns and villages each year. The sheer misery of. living where along the A2 is brought: ‘orcefully io life a an exhibition, 2 Environment, Geoffrey art of the exhibition is the vironment Department’s own ans for a Canterbury by-pass, stil el Siete oi ee other by-passes plann fread beiine ‘built on the A2. fea || village of Bridge, through which Edited by Tony Crook Britain’s bridle Europe But by-passes, say the students, are only a temporary answer. They would ease the intolerable pressures on village and urban life'in South Kent, but they would also destroy much of its farmland and wild life. What is needed, they argue, is segregation of lorries and cars and—more im- portant — massive improvement of rail services. i A special animated cartoon envisages high-speed hovertrains taking much of the commuter pressure off the road, leaving it for freight and local traffic. ists could be seduced into ments equipped with the luxuries of a high-speed car. An improved rail service would ease the agonies of noise, fumes, building. damage and danger, to, life’ and: limb. And with Jorries alone’ onthe »A2 using” 10,000 gallons of fuel a day, it would leave'restricted oil supplies for those who really need them, * “The road ‘surface, too, would _be spared its present. pounding, Excavations show that’ even the Romans resurfaced it four times. And “as fan back’ as 1527,\:the’ French ambassador complained to Henry, VIII. about | the “extremely ruinous state ” of the main London road at Canterbury. AQ model of were driven along the High Street; children played football winter. Now villagers have to shout to make themselves heard in their front rooms, They lie awake at night, in beds vibrating. to the traffic. Some fear to go shopping because lorries often mount the narrow . pavements. School teachers are relieved each day safely, a vehicle passes every four “Romans using the Canterbury- “seconds, a heavy lorry every 46. ) ; 3 : | seconds, Members of Bridge protest group expect six mill r vehicles to have roared thr their! High Street by the en ment'in the mines if they brok the severe weight limits in their carts or chariots, Now the few lorries tested for overweight th f , loads—more than a third of those - The: on compares life tested in the last, six months were ‘today in such villages with memo- breaking the law—face moderate i only 30-years ago: Sheep fines, en 4 Ag z if sh Twenty-two. miles of agony and despair depicte the »A2 at the Canterbury exhibi in the road and skated on it in~ 1 their children arrive — THE SUNDAY TIMES, DECEMBER 9 1973 = Kelvin Brodie ion “The students ha the lorry-dri too, the picture i: naut:men admit that condi on the A2 make them an. delays in» jams; multi t road signs; constant mancew round buses and parked cars col bine to have them in a fury the time they reach The number of 7 ee ~e ae Bis | Is the A2 | the road of the future? eee ee annie - THE a2 ENVIRONMENT The Most 'Mportan: in ae Successful Srowth of Plant: seh eas the distribution of 4 a a S and insects are Soil, water Pply, light, Climate and the t factors influenc- its length the A2 runs across chalk downland and in one area through oak Woodland on clay. These provide habitats for specialised wildlife including certain rare species. Although the areas of scientific interest either side of the A2 are not in the direct path of proposed by-passes and road widening schemes, such schemes may alter conditions to such an extent that certain species may be unable to survive. Unless precautions are taken some of the orchids and butterflies could disappear from this area altogether. BLEAN woop AREA, An unusual! Woodland on wildlife includin, g the Cow-wheat, the 3 extremely rare butterfly whic h is for i Other areas in spa this country, Heath Fritillary y large area of Oak : clay Supporting a rich only two DRAINAGE va ly chalkland s there is The three the Dour and the Nailbourne running through Canterbury, Temple Ewe! respectively and around trout and othe ILEDEN WOOD The chalk soil in this area is suitable for the growth of the rare Red Helleborine orchid. Red Helleborine LYDDEN HILL Before being cleared for the building of the dual-carriageway there was a fine shrub area of Spindle, Wayfaring and Gelder Rose frequented by nightingales. Wayfaring @Barham LYDDEN DOWNS Chalk grassland with p ir dry soil supporting many specialised plants and uncommon butterflies. A good area for orchids espec' rare Burnt Orchid. the small TEMPLE EWELL loodville Wood, the pone of the Stinking Hellibore. The ele Se downs supporting up to me ie butterfly including the Marb! ? White, Silver Spotted Skipper an _ Chalk Blue. An extremely goo a area for orchids as well as other chal flora. The animal life includes badgers, whilst Waxwings are amongst the unusual birds seen there Including W CLIFF AREA chalk flora including the der Orchid. An it good place for butter- including interesting Supporting rare Early S exceptionally flies and birds migratory varieties. WH Ti fi Early Spider Orchid Barham Do like this it j small houses MWS CA Nn appear vary bleak and desolate, Ate greatly with the 6 diffi ifficult to believe it is part of a main Eure The size of the and narrow stree Canterbury Harbledown Dunkirk he ¢ iral silhouette presents an impressive fo: n n ach as recen pressive focal point as one appro: ee ie 9 proaches Canterbury. The City Council h a o ban lorries over 10 tons from Rheims Way (a vital link in the A2) because of the traffic orchieea tag cuca i The extraordinary wid afely A few minutes of peace as Boughton Street resumes the passing other large vehicles a the quiet tranquillity of a sleepy English village. Confusind road signs © improve this section “ A good view of the surrounding Kentish Downs before descending into Lydden. Lorries have to swing out over ailed to take this b the double end resulting s. Work now er tow Single file f traffic 5@ local tr 14! lorries nakes overtak Aaffic cause and cars g dangerous. The Ag ig the mai Hore TIR lorries wa " route betwaarn London it before boarding the cnanidl eh Stone Street we A2 in 1976 mas Main Road --. Railway The Roman Road System The Present Road and Railway System That St fe: ss oS ES Su oy, ANE CoA ASS oan Ay, WSs As » Woh %, Ay ie {\\ tt BSv. aes = BRIDGE ~ DOVER SUMMER AUTUMN Tourist traffic Fog (many drivers new to English roads) Leaves onthe road Hitch-hikers Low lying mist in the S Glare and dappled sunlight on road surface Extra traffic on the August Bank Holiday ‘JUGGERNAUTS-A2 Dover Docks to Brenley Corner as seen by the Lorrydriver The Village The Village stands on the principal trading route from the Capital to the Port. Since ancient times it has been used as a waystation by travellers on the Highway being some twelve miles from the Port and sixty miles from the Capital. ; Progress tended to leave the Village unspoiled and older folk retired there. The Highway, however, had lost none of its import- ance over the years as a trading route. Nor had it grown any safer. One day an old Villager was knocked down and killed in the main street by a trade vehicle. This is where our story really begins. CANTERBURY The Beginnings ‘ ern had the fatality, concern ars before arent level regarding At least two Ye | increase of | govern xpressed at local g cava It was obvious that a canes a ; affic in particular vehicles carrying 9 ‘ ic a imminent. i i he North of the d was being built to tl Village at the start of the Highway. The ete it was feared, would attract to the Highway a the traffic then using an alternative route to ane : This was a longer route and already overloaded. Anew roa ect of unlimited movement Baro i treets through their narrow $ ; decide to join forces in an effort to forewarn their neighbours of the danger. Leaflets are printed. At first these are apathy and hostility, but when a petit five months after the death of the olq an encouragingly high percentage of t signatures. The Village is beginning to the idea that Progress has not passed it by met with '0n is Cire Man, it carr; a Cay he Villagers’ awaken to The petition is simple: The Villagers do not want the traffic ang Government make a special road taking i not through the Village. ask that th t past ang i Recognising that the petition is a necessq stage but that it will have little real effec Government, the Villagers accept this an make their protest in other ways. ry first t On the d plan to {EE Ulateg The Campaign The next year shows an increase of activities. Failure in the braking system of a trade vehicle on a hill outside the Village, causes a crash. This evokes further opposition to the traffic now funnelling through from the New Road. Resistance soon becomes visible. A large notice appears mysteriously overnight in the main street: SLOW — people LIVE here. A month later, in October, fifty of the Village youth organised by the younger of the Two Villagers march through the streets repeating the request of the petition. This is the first hint of militancy. It is to be noted that during the preceding four years eight people have been killed and forty-nine injured on the Highway within the boundaries of the Village. The next spring one hundred and fifty inhabitants take part in the second public demonstration. They carry coffins. At the same time periodical reports and leaflets are printed and distributed in the area by the Two Villagers. Caricatures of the Government Department concerned draw attention to the problem but also bring hostility from the Government Representative for the area. This is the year of the General Election. The Cam In the May the Vil Their fears are just of a Government Member a! streets: ‘Asleep to Realising the prob! Highway an attempt is ’ : is is unsuccessful and the Villagers ediate problems — the Special Road. Committee. Th retire to their imm poms 18 OM: CANTERBURY lagers tally the through traffic. ified, Two months later an effigy bed is carried through the our need’. em affects all the villages on the made to form a joint Highway Each of the General Election candidates is approached to divine his attitudes to the Special Road. The existing representa tive is not returned — he denounces the campaign, One of the other candidates promises to support them, and is duly elected. both of t One-—a traffic with another country, the other an a with a bloc already engaged in mutual tradi firm deci To clarify the issue as far as the future Highway is concerned and the request eed : Road, are the main aims of the campaign. The >Pecial aggravates what is already becomin ke intolerable situation. The traffic takes He over in traffic paign Continues The New Road had been built in the kno soon the country would be entering into wo projects involving an increa: major engineering project invo}| sions can as yet be made. the Villagers’ needs. No Special Road is planned. The campaign continues, wledge that one or Se in trade, Ving rail- lliance ng. But no Nerease | : : Locally dismay is voiced at the small bud i get which the Government have now allocated for the piecemeal improvements to the Highway. The New Representa- tive and the Villagers continue to press their demands Time passes — but nothing is resolved. Four years later a passive resistance protest is organised. For the first time evidence of outside sympathy is present. The Villagers sit down in the road and stop the traffic. Arrests are made but charges are not preferred. The Village receives publicity from the local press and the regional broadcasting network. One week later another sit-down x i ‘ Protest is village at the beginning of the Highway held ina Traffic increases as do the hold public meetings to di accidents and the Villagers scuss the dangers. Matters come to a head wh i tH ) en the driver of vehicle dies as his load crashes through anaeuee main street of the Village. The crash occurs before dawn in early summer. The family asleep upstairs escape injury. Forty-eight hours later the Vi a illagers block t for one hour. Traffic comes to a standstill. ~ pion are made. Following this a Government Engi : is sent to address a public meeting r: dose nthe — 4 egarding the traff ahs Highway and the noise and pe: ag ir write The Highway Committee ow of concern espec ally as the visit has been w ely pub! cised, the Villagers calla public meeting in the nearby City, W h is well attended and so at last the Highway Committee becomes a reality. Heartened by this sh The Villagers then paint a bold sign on the shattered shop front. It asks for a ban on the Giants and demands the Special Road. The police and the local government turn a blind eye to the gesture. ‘committee descend on the Port. Visiting the foreign consulates, they lodge petitions requesting support and ask that th nationals write to the Government complaining about the dangers of the Highway- The Highway C: The Villagers continue the publicity campai it to the Capital itself. They employ a balaieeas taking reveille outside the Government's offices, in pes i ort to waken them up- A further census of traffic shows a massive inc especially of large trade vehicles from abroad Government agree to further investigation Bren Highway’s problems and the team sent by the Two Villagers to join them in their journey of inspection down the Highway. A local enna e to guide the party and point out the hazards, grees Escorted by police they move down the Hi ighw: are met at every village by demonstrations; Tes am k to some of the inhabitants about the dang spea them invite $i] The Outcome The Villagers demand now becomes an They threaten to hold a sit-down dennst tae involving one thousand people. This threat i ion and so they decide to carry it out. is ignored Leaflets announcing the decision are delivered through ug! every door in every village along the High Support grows and outside help from the neigh ing villages is promised and given. ighbour- One week before the protest the summoned to the local police pelle) a are that as the instigators of the proposed actio eye could face possible arrest. The Villagers ref n they back down. The reason for the change of att to towards the protest is worrying. itude appears, It has al ready been div; erted by the poli ice t hrough the Alternative Route. Success. Char and then dropped. a The protest is a against the Two Villagers The immediate out Dangers of the Gia: In the national a is brought up by ae is that the Village and the diss re synonymous al Y the case for the Special Road en area representatives, ; The Vi i Villagers get their Road, They are promised th: at within the next few and the Special Road peti: banana wi Post -script But is this the end of the story? It shows what can be accomplished when people combine their efforts to fight an injustice. But it only scratches the surface of a problem of which the vehicle is a symptom. The Villagers attack their immediate problem and it takes them eleven years to obtain their special road. The road merely moves the traffic elsewhere They are satisfied — but should they be? By using their tenacity they could have perhaps tackled the real problem. The real problem is bigger and more difficult to define. The real problem is with people. We have allowed ourselves to develop a highly wasteful consumer society. At every level from the corporation to the private individual we contribute to this prodigious waste. We believe the goods we consume to be essential to our way of life, just as we accept the motor car with its twin symbols of power and prestige. In chasing production and satisfying our wants we are using up our world. Already our dependence on oil as a fuel source shows signs of being illfounded. The lorries are only a symptom. The Village is Bridge. The Highway i i : y isth The Special Road is the Bridge Bye e A2. My thanks to John Purchese and Brian L A2 Committee, and to Mr. W. B. Waterh Temple Ewell Ginger Group. ewis of the Ouse of the Cover photographs by courtesy of the Kentish Gazette Department of the Environment 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 3EB Direct line 01-212 7117 Re Switchboard 01-212 3434 ‘ Your reference Our reference Bekesbourne — CANTERBURY Date Kent 4 November 1973 ——— NS SS eee Dear Mr Purchese als You will be aware that the Department has announced that the public and local authorities in the Canterbury area are to be asked for their views on possible alternative routes for a Southern by-pass of the City. The situation is described in an explanatory booklet which will be available at local Council offices and post offices from Wednesday 7 November. A copy of this publication is attached. We would be very grateful if you could give us any comments you may have on the routes by 4 January; a questionnaire for this purpose is included in the booklet. Ze The alternatives will be shown in more detail at a public exhibition to be held in the Slater Art Gallery at the Beaney Institute from 16-20 November. Staff will be present to discuss the possible routes throughout the exhibition, which will be open at the times given in the booklet. We hope that as many people as possible will be able to attend. Yours sincerely a) a TU I PL) M W McD CAIRNS Enc A A) rt ad 2. Editor Oo CG t A = Tony Payne ‘ Pigverry edly on A2 Tel Canterbury 63459. | The letter reproduced overleaf has been sent to: The Regional Controller, (Mr. Oversby-Powell) (Roads & Transportation, South Eastern) 74 Epsom Road Guildford, Surrey. and a copy sent to the Minister, Mr. John Peyton, c/o the House of Commons. If you agree with its contents then you should write your own letter, because this may be the only way the Minister will take notice. No doubt you have seen the green “Consultative Document" issued by the Dept. of the Environment. It is not a particularly informative paper, and if there are any points on which you would like further information, or opinion, you know where to find me to ask! Don't hesitate, it has been my policy to consult with the village over the solution to problems, and I hope by now you are beginning to feel involved in some way in decisions which affect you. Do not underestimate the effect of public opinion on the Dept. of the Environment; do not he discouraged. Central Government is supposed to act on our behalf for our own and the National interest, and it uses our money to do it! Published by A.G.L. Payne. Woodside, Bigberry Hill, Harbledown. peared. by PDC Copy Service, 129, High Holborn, London W.C.1. Dear Gir, pa 4 i emenribe Castentust ween . “ber the conversetion we had Guring the Minister’s visitx to . Crew attention radi fa : ing the Harbledown hiennes to @ contragiction in the stated views copcem I also hope you will remember that 1 expresses my cotts 2oot ~ ies writing to you on this subject, but you gave me your assuracce that the points wish to raise would be given every consideration saber is a principal route in a European network and carries an unusucily high proportion of heavy freight and holiday tourist traffic, ail of waich is br passable. The estimate of only 50% cf traffic flow being by-passeble a accepted by many of us who live along the present A2. Am accurcte figure ca= be obtained by holding a proper origin and Aeattaitees sail non Canterbury. Further— more, it is known that 80% of T.I.R. traffic passing out of Dover is bound for Belgium and I view the Department's opinion a the itiain ice of traffic om hes route after the opening of the Channel Tunnel with 4 great Geal of sceptici =- a I feel sure the citizens of Canterbury and District «ill resist any attempt by the Dept. of the Environment to pass off a single carriageway >y-pess of Canterbury as a solution to their traffic problex, particularly if there is 2 veiled hope at the Dept. that the Harbledowm by-pass, Rheims Way and the resic- ential area of the New Dover Road are to be eran to ae an in ate outer by-pass. Prior to, and during the Harbledown inquiry, the Department's view was thet # x the proposed new single carriageway at Harbledown would have a useful life <«s 4 principal route to the Western side of the City after the opening of the Canterbury 7 by-pass. - At the Harbledown inquiry this was disputed by myself and the Canterbury Society. Evidence was also given, in the form of extracts from the Minutes of af the Bridge-Blean Rural District Council and in the statement on behalf of the Canterbury City Council, to the effect that a by-pass of the City of Canterbury would be a preferable method of relieving traffic through Harbledown village, and that the Harbledown proposal should be deferred pending a firm decision on the design and construction of the Canterbury by-pass. ‘ In his report, the Inspector agreed with the objections to the Harbledown . by-pass, but recommended its construction because the Dept. had given no evidence of their intention to build a Canterbury by-pass. On Thursday Mr Peyton stated publically that he has 1976 in mind as a start- ‘a _ ing date for the Canterbury by-pass, with completion by 1978. ‘his is only two ee years after the projected opening of a very expensive (nearly half a million Bee pounds) and environmentally destructive single carriageway which creates as many problems as it solves and which has been described by the Dept. as an "Interim Measure". Now at last in your Consultative Document (para. 8) you have agreed that a route to the City by way of a Wincheap Radial road from the Canterbury by-pass is more satisfactory than through Harbledown! Even without a Wincheap Radial Road, the removal of through traffic from Harbledown would bring very acceptable relief to the village. In view of the need to restrain unnecessary public expenditure, preserve agricultural land, and some of the finest countryside within sight of the Cathedral, will you give every consideration to the abandonment of the Harbledewn 3 scheme in favour of early completion of the Canterbury by-pass? P. A public inquiry into the Canterbury proposal, which will admit evidence on the Harbledown problem, is desperately needed. At the same time, will*the Dept. publish its Transportation and Road network policy for East Kent? I am confident that a Dept. which is keeping its plans and performance under review must re-examine the Harbledown proposal, s KENT COUNTY COUNCIL “Roads Departmen ~~ HOUSE, A. D. W. SMITH, KENT ) B.Sc.(Eng.), C.Eng., F.1.C.E., M.1.Mun.E., LOWER STONE STREET, COUNTY SURVEYOR eeetir MAIDSTONE. yqm15 6LA Ext. 235 YOUR REF. 115/55/1 This matter is being dealt with Maidstone 65400 by .P.J Kinnersley Sis Gaara OY 84/BB/2 10th December, 1973 Dear Mr.Soilleux, , Yellow Bar Markings, A2, Bridge i i of I apologise for the delay in replying to your letter the 22nd November. R I personally am not convinced that yellow bar SE eaiite | are the answer, as those which have Bee nT ge | Hill made no difference to the speed of traffic. cue have suggested to the Regional Gontroller that a er Care form of speed control should be used and I now awal instructions. ei i i ta ts BRIDGE-BLEAN RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL COUNCIL OFFICES, OLD DOVER ROAD, TELEPHONE: CANTERBURY 664iI (4 LINES) Your REF. [Tresoillew #5/55/1 Clerk to Bri : i 19 December 1973 Council offi Old Dover R¢ Canterbury, CT1 3DH. | Dear Mr Lewis A.2 TOWN HILL, BRIDGE GRS~ please reply impers Merete tet toirens letter of the 14 November last, I enclose herewith a copy of one dated 10 December 1975 received from the County Surveyor. I feel we must await the Regional Controller's views Yours sincerely Clerk ofthe Council B°A Lewis Esq ‘1 High Street Bridge Canterbury CT4 5JY Ene. H/LE | \ THE CANTERBURY SOCIETY Hon. Tree > i n. Treasurer. Chairman. Hon.Secretary A.Robi ® a 3 : obinson, sq. Prof. B.Keith-Lucas, Miss H.Alpin , 20 King Street, 26 Orchard Street, Canterbury Canterbury. Dear Ne Loe I “ es Ney ; have pleasure in enclosing the comments of the Canterbury Society on the propesals for the Canterbury Southcrn By-pass ( A2 ) set out in the Consultative Document issued by the Department of the Environment last month. Yours sincerely, h Cem - Assistant Hon. Secretary. MAS 3 752 The basic questions underlying any consideration of a by-pass are, what is the volume and nature of the traffic that would be diverted from the Canterbury Ring Road to the by-pass, poth now and in the future? There seems to be no evidence that this question has been asked and answered by the consultants on the basis of recent origin and destination surveys. On the contrary, it scems that they have taken Buchanan's figuree and adjusted these in the light of known developments in the last few years. But figures relating to 1968-9 belong to another era - the time before the enormous growth of cross-~ channel ‘juggernaut’ traffic - and no amount of adjustment of old figures can properly reflect such a revolutionary change. Similarly, we doubt whether the effect.of the Channel Tunnel on traffic that would use the bypass has been given adequate consideration - certainly there is little evidence of this in the consultative document, which merely makes the vague statement that ‘the proposed Channel Tunnel and extension of the M20 to folkestone : should provide a measure of relief to the A2 but ey of through traffic will still be considerable: Other independant forecasts that only 15% of the cross-channel TIR traffic will use the that after the puilding of the Tunnel the volume of A2 anterbury in 1984 could be as great as the present Whether such forecasts arc reliable or not, suggest Tunnel, and traffic bypassing © traffic on Rheims Vay. i s at present no way of judging: RHerete no studies from official Comments by the Canterbury Society on the Consultative Document (November 2 that the attcndance was so good Cand interest so keen. CANTHRBURY SOUTHERN BY-V/ & (2) ironment, and on the related PUBLIC LARTICIPATION *pataekive ye welcome the} taken by the Department of the Environment in setting up an exhibition to inform the public about the A2 bypass proposals. In most respects this was admirably conceived; a particularly valuable feature was the fact that experts from the consultancy and the Kent County Council were in attendance and were fully prepared to discuss and explain . This exercise in public relations was apparently the first of its kind to be provided by the Department, and we think it must have been gratifying to the organisers The one serious fahlt on the public relations side was that the information presented in the ‘consultative document! is sketchfy, particularly in regard to present and estimated traffic flows and the relationship of the proposed by~pass to the traffic pattern of the Canterbury area as a whole. Could the Consultants report to the Minister not be published in full? The basic questions underlying any consideration of a by-pass are, what is the volume and nature of the traffic that would be diverted from the Canterbury Ring Road to the by-pass, both now and in the future? There seems to be no evidence that this question has been asked and answered by the consultants on the basis of recent origin and destination surveys. On the contrary, it scems that they have taien Buchanan's figures and adjusted these in the light of known developments in the last few years. But figures relating to 1968-9 belong to another era - the time before the enormous growth of cross~ channel ‘juggernaut’ traffic - and no amount of adjustment of old figures can properly reflect such a revolutionary change. Similarly, we doubt whether the effect.of the Channel Tunnel on traffic that would use the bypass has bcen given adequate consideration - certainly there is little evidence of this in the consultative document, which merely makes the vague statement that 'the proposed Channel Tunnel and extension of the M20 to Polkestone should provide a measure of relief to the A2 but the volume of through traffic will still be considerable: Other independant fo asts suggest that only 15% of the cross-channel TIR traffic will use the Tunnel, and that after the building of the Tunnel the volume of A2 nterbury in 1984 could be as great as the present traffic bypassing Ca: traffic on Rheims Way. Whether such forecasts arc reliable or not, there is at present no way of judging: no studies from official - +e = Sources appear to have been published, and we suspect they have not been made. Another such question relateS to the form that the tunnel will take, n AP} BH ‘ The idea of a 'rail only! tunnel has becn vrusaypy dismissed in Parliament and by the Kent County Council. as hopel.es > aos a Ssly uneconomic; /2SE AG SVS BER = -CWw @re contained in a consultant's report which has not been and may not be published. Yet the possibility that the Tunnel might take this form cannot yet be ruled out entircly, especially in view of the deepening cil crisis; and this possibility ought therefore to have been considered as one alternative in any attemptcd estimate of future traffic flows on the A2. Where, therefore, therc should have been a traffic analysis based on newly~collected statistics and taking properly into account major new developments (eg.the colossal growth of traffic through the port | of Dover, and the Tunnel in at least two of its projected forms) ,we have instead what appears suspiciously like guesswork based on outdated statistics. It is a pity that the case for the bypass, which is a strong one, should have been presented on such a poor foundation. The arguments for and against the three suggested routes are weil stated in the consultative ducument. Route B is the solution wo favour: a bypass should be a road through open country, not one that marks the outermost boundary of a city's residential arcas, as Route A would be in effect before long. But it needs to be conceived, if ; possible, in such a way as to serve the needs of local as well as | through traffic; and it is in this respect that ROUFES A and B are acceptable whcreas C is not. i Bearing in mind the fact that whatever route is chosen, it would i still need to be planned in detabl, we suggest that it might be found | possible to diverge southward from the line shown for Route B on the map so as to avoid domolishing Vinescole House and destroying the rural character of Merton Lane SINGLE OR DUAL CARRIAGEVAY ? The lack of proper enquiry as to the basic facts shows most obviously, 1 that the bypass should be single-carriageway, g this argument is that by 1991 the Ring Road the bypass would be wo think, in the proposa SEne assumption underlyin might be carrying 22,000 vohicles a day while ) | handling only half this number at most. But no evidence of any | substance has becn offered in support of this calculation. iiven if this estimate (or guess) were to a single carriageway would be disastrously prove correct, however, we think that to build mistaken, because ; es (4) Much of the traffic using the bypass, 4n both dircetions,would be | orn iceeiee On a single carriageway two lines of such traffic, cach & W each 2tt from the kt rb, would av a) 5 t um cleo Cc butwee AB ’ 1d ha Ge only 2ft minim learance [28 Setween the lines. The dangers to the driv ers of the lorrics, to othor traffic and above all to any cyclists who were brad (2) Land would be aquired, andbridges and flyovers built, to a dual carriageway standard to permit conversion at a later date, Thus the Single carriageway would represent only a Sinnbl saving and that a temporary one - on the cost of a dual carriageway. (3) A single cerriageway would make it difficult or impossible to link so rash as to venture on the » need no underlining, a the A28 offuectively with the byvass. On the present plan for a single carriageway, there would be an interchange only for A28 (iinchcap) traffic turning south. (4) To join two dual carriageways with four to seven miles of single | carriageway is « sure redipe for congestion and raising the accident rate. 5 TRE A28 , WINCHEAP RADIAL AND HARLLDDON | Traffic on the A28 shows the higes+ rate of incercase for any major i road in the Canterbury area. It is clearly very important that an early decision should be made about the proposed Wincheap Radial in : order to relieve Winchvap. But the Winchoap Radial (as the consultative | document points out) would also offer the obvious entry route to the eity for traffic using the A2; for this reason too, a decision about this radial route is a matter of urgency - it necds to be planned in conjunction with the bypass. It is to be hoped that central and local government will recognise that on this question they have mutual responsibilities and opportunities . Close co-operation between the two is absolutely necessary. The now sense of urgency concerning the A2 bypass (1978 is now being mentioned as a possible completion date, in contrast to! the carly 1980's ' forecast of not long ago) makes the Harbledown bypass appear in an even more dubious light than previously. The Harbledown bypass, on which work is due to start next year,has been justified on the grounds that it will give a fow years! relief from through traffic before the A2 bypass is built, But if the period of rclicf is now to be only tio or thrcoe years, can this be worth the spending of nearly half a million pounds coupled with irretrievable onvironmental damage ? (The subsidiary argument which hos been advanced, that the Harbledown bypass will be needed for local traffic alone once the A2 bypass has siphoned off the through trattigs can only be regarded as an unsubstantiated afterthought; perce less plausible in the light of the Department's point that a Wincheap Radial would be the best entry route to the city from the A2.) 6 CONCLUSIONS We conclude, therefore, that (1)It is unfortunate that the proposals for the 42 bypass have been the Channel Tunnel. to the alternative routes proposed, we favour Route B subject one suggestions which could be investigated at the detailed planning stage. os | & tional factors we have mentioned under (2), but also in the s f traffic needs and trends in the city as a whole. Ve have lly in mind the need to cope with the growth of A28 traffic, y by means of a Wincheap Radial Route; and a decision about jould need to be taken in tine for it to be planned in conjunction 2 by-pass. And we point out that a a o build the A2 articularly if acconpanied by the Win al, would further the Harbledown To aba: don the Harbledcwn plan in spend the money on nt al Winche e@ as well as good | h A G UW i Hon. Secretary/ Treasurer: e 2 ro P Chairman: Bien A. Lewis, John Purchese, a tatdee i Bekesbourne, 1 High Street, ge, Syateroana kent i Canterbury, Rent We care about the A2 Trunk road to Dover from the M2 Please rep , High Street, Bridges Canterbury, Kent. OT4 5dX. 28th December 1973+ receipt of the comme: é ; warded to me by your As hilst congratulating the Society on the comp the situation, I would comment on paragraph five ae + is stated that 1978 is now being mentioned as @ possible yompletion date. In my view this is extremely optimistic. | You will recall that following the opening of the exhibition, Mr. John Peyton stated that he was hopeful for a start by 1976 but added that this would only be achieved providing that a public enqui discounted. Clearly we can not discount such an eventuality and st look for at least 1978 for commencement, and even this could be dispute after the governments recently announced £1200m cut—back | public expenditure. Harbledown by-pass is, as you rightly state, due to st year. On the basis that this will be completed by 1976, I think | ou must agree that the period of relief is more likely to be four of ve years rather than two or three as suggested. | Yours sincerely, a TE oF Brian A. Lewis: Sec/Treasurer, A2 Group. | Chairman: Hon. Secretary/Treasurer: John Purchese, Brian A. Lewis, Mill Cottage, Bekesbourne, 1 High Street, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent Canterbury, Kent We care about the A2 Trunk road to Dover from the M2 Please reply to:- 3 1, High Street, Bridge Canterbury, Kent, GT4> 31st December 1973, Begitna) Controller, De artment of the Environment, (4, Epsom Road, uildford, Surrey. Dear fir. Oversby—Powell, I find it necessary to write to you personally as it appears ossible to attain positive action from others. I refer to my correspondence with both your department and County Council in connection with the provision of yellow bar ngs for Town Hill, Bridge. As you know, bars were laid on Bridge Het on 22nd August experiment, ‘ I understand from the Kent County Surveyor that you were to the proposal for similar markings on Town Hill to | Department of nvironment headquarters for decision at that level and. een to ire as to the outcome, From pratical experience, it is evident that bem of are eepooeetuhs but should you be of the opinion + arly reply. Regret aa y Le aa payee a2 SsouRe Treasurer: Th A2 G u Chairman: Hon. Secretary/ e ro Pp John Purchese, Brian A. Lewis, ids Mill Cottage, Bekesbourne, 1 High Street, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent Canterbury, Kent We care about the A2 Trunk road to Dover from the M2 ly tor Please reply to 1, High Street, Bridge, y _ Kent. CT4 5JY. <) Have now written to the Regional Controller Av “enclose ‘Sa my letter of todays date for your aro pabm as wild md a copy of reply as soon as it is to hand. Yours sincerely, (1a () ae a Brian A. Lewis: | . Sec/Treasurer, A2 Group. Bus partment of the Environment 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 3EB Direct line 01-212 8396 Switchboard 01-212 3434 B A Lewis Esq Secretary Your reference A2 Group 141 High Street Our reference Bridge S Canterbury Date : 5 January 1974. = CANTERBURY SOUTHERN BY-PASS Thank you for poneine us a completed questionnaire recording your group's reactions to the alternative routes wessuggested- for, this road.—Your views, together with those of the other people who-have written to us, will be considered carefully before the Secretary of State comes to his decision. x — ath TA 83/16 Department of the Environment 2: Marsham Street London SW1P 3EB Direct line 01-212 8396 Switchboard 01-212 3434 Your reference Our reference Date Gs wary 1974. CANTERBURY ‘SOUTHERN BY-PASS Thank you for sending us a completed questionnaire recording your reactions to the alternative routes we ‘or this road. Your views, together 1 with the others being put to us, will be considered carefully | before ape: Secretary of State comes to his decision. a Sw eth, | Ost G WATSON abroad and were ch and Eugand. arriving at chairman. of the Bench, Mr David Thompson, asked Mr REE there were Weighing ities at Tat whether they were Mr Hunter replied that ‘there was one at the actual dock and two on the way out. He added, “They are very hart te guy eames wee frutes" es a few ree other companies, who pleaded guilty by letter, were also each fined £50 with £10 costs RE SK ‘They were Seabourne Ship- ping Co Ltd, of 1/3 River Hlercock Continental Lita of tO! Ibe Welford Road. Leicester. The- ing drivers were fined £50: Frank Mekie,. of 42. Har Road, Dagen- ham; Ray Rutland, of 272a Romford Road, Forest Gate, London, E7; Charles Wise, of 3 Wells Way, London, SE5; and William Staples, of 46 Philip Lane, Tottenham. Kite 29..1-74 Brake pipe burst — An 80-year-old Barham motorist, Arthur Burgess, whose car ran into the back of another at Bridge Hill; Bridge, on October 24, was fined £5 for having defective brakes by St Augustine’s on Wednesday. Mr Cyril Croft, for Bur- gess, of 37b The Grove, said he had bought the car in May, when it had just got an MOT test certificate. The next test on the brakes was scheduled for 6,000 miles later and as he had onl; done 1,600, he did not thin! they needed to be checked. ig down Bridge Hill on October 24, he had to stop twice because of the traffic, and his brakes worked properly on both occasions, ‘The third time he felt a jerk and the brakes failed. He pulled out and avoided two cars, but ran into the third, It was later found that the pipe containing the brake fluid had burst. Burgess had denied the charge but, finding it proved, the chair- man, Mr John~ Greenhouse, said: “ This is only a nominal fine, as we do not think that foe could have known about MINISTER for Transport Industries, Mr. Jo}in Peyton, has quickly put the brakes pon Canterbury City Council’s plan) to clear its main rijad of heavy lorries. | The Minister has flung up a barrier to the sclaeme by prohibiting the Corpo- ration, from makirig the Order banning big lorries from the A2 trun’k read within its boundaries. | Canterbury City; Coun- cil voted, by ¢ight to seven, a fortnighit ago to exclude lorries over ten tons or 36 feet ling after March 1. But within the week | Mr. Peyton clamped his own ban on this jaction. BURY CITY coun- eilyiz s to go-ahead with its controyersial plan to make an order: banning. heavy lorries from the A2 trunk road within its boundaries. By eight votes to seven, the council decided to make the order from March 1. But Mr. John Peyton, Minister for Transport In- dustries, has already warned the council that if they per- sisted in making the. order he TER e iat ounc forbid jwould”consider making a direction under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1967, Section 84a (1) (II), prohibiting the council from bringing) it into operation without his consent. He, added. that he might need to, obtain more informa- tion. and opinions before deciding whether to give con- sent and in that case he might hold a local inquiry. ‘The prohibition would app- ly ;to. the A2 in Canterbury between St Lawrence d on the Dover side, and St Peter’s roundabout on the ap- proach from London. e announced: ‘‘In flew of the effects which the Order, if made, would have on local traffic, particularly in villages nearby, an inquiry will be held: Any person inter- ested will be able to appear, or be represent- ed.” ‘ There were protests from other Kent councils, haulage firms and associ- ations, bus and coach operators. and other bodies and individuals when Canterbury’s shock move was advertised. SANE But the council still has allies. Mr. Brian Lewis, secretary of the A2 Group, said this week: “We wholeheartedly sup- port the City Council. We take the view that the ban should be put into operation as the strongest possible protest. ’’” “Rar from being an irresponsible move, I think it is the sane move in view of the current economic situation. Un- less we push for the Canterbury bypass, I don’t think the thing is ever going to be built!’’ | paign. Record village wants to lose THE juggernaut protes- tors, villagers who belong to the A2 Group near Canterbury, believe they may qualify for some kind of record. Perhaps it is for endurance. They have been campaigning for safety along their trunk road for 12 years this week. Or better still, thinks secretary Mr. Brian Lewis, they could be in the Guinness Book of Records for the amount of Press coverage their little village of Bridge has earned. Mr. Lewis — appro- priately, a quantity surveyor — has been assessing how many lines of newspaper space the A2 campaign has war- ranted. He has steered through five scrapbooks which the Group has compiled and |reports: “The total in local and national news- papers comes to more )than 6,000 column inches. “It is amazing that so much has been written about a single subject without people getting tired of it. Undoubtedly, for a village of this size it must be unprecedented. ’’ Bridge has borne the brunt of hair-raising incidents which have punctuated the A2 cam- There are 50 houses. with no front gardens between them and the main road to the Continent. Villagers haic seen jlorries crash, lorries ) overturn, lorries Sreak- | down. Cars have shunted | together in mass coliision, /houses and shop: | crumbled under isipact, have and regrettably, there have been deaths. . . Its main street is just 18ft wide, lorries pass each 46 seconds — but those are records the residents would like ty lose! den bh pa 3 [a Lis uu [aes [as a ee - WSS ae 4 7 BY MICHAEL PHILLIPS, POLITICAL OFFICER, BARRY BOROUGH YCs YOUNG LIBERALS fighting the while Common Market countries Adequate by-passes and ring roads Long-term town planning must now I : juggernaut lorries, Canterbury Council propose that this should be increased to offer the only hope of making a major become a reality, with special emphasis attempting to ban heavy lorries from its 40 tons. This would mean heavier lorries impact on the lorry problem and the on off-street access, and «traffic-free ting road — do heavy vehicles have a__ but certainly not bigger lorries. through-traffic problem generally. streets a priority. long term future? Society today relies to an increasing Once these roads are built, lorries . A js i > —t=4-4-~Sello! Arguments have raged over the years extent on heavy vehicles toxservice its which don’t have deliveries to make can a Je smle a Sisped serio nt mnvolving no ee : Lgeee $2 > (o) as to whether road transport pays its fair everyday needs. It is therefore necessary ; be kept out of town centres. x gree anvone‘lavolving./a’” private © FeexsoroasZ share of track costs by comparison with to build throughout’ Britain’a modern Equally, we should restrict the use of wataerallisa tal teretalcorai facts that road: < gha @o52 2 ea bmle rail. A Ministry of Transport study in network of roads capable pf taking-this —country. Janes by lorries where Possible. accidents involving commercial vehicles ein jae 2: egos a8 1966 concluded that the taxes paid by heavy freight’ from: our’ marrow streets ~’However. the needs of farms (particularly Be eictie nce wets cach million’: cles = BoseEnS &) Pa = road vehicles covered all track costs —. onto »fast open» highways, Another "the collection of till), gnatties and, travelled than any other class of vehicle. ae soe re n% O toads, police, signalling, etc. — and argument for’ this network. is’ the . factoriés’ adjacent to such rdads‘Have to y tf 9 Lin ee cre oe showed a surplus to the Exchequer of © Proposed overall increase in vehicles ~,be.met. hoa ee rt T have purposely ignored railways and 5. oe as BASsa Le} more than £400 million. from.16 million: today to 22 million by Many councils do, not\have a realistic canals in this article, for I can see no BS sods aoa bl eT ‘se li f cy pera 1983, attitude to. overnight apie parks and also economic future for these methods of e We e353 es C2) eiat ators ees oe tely £500 To use lighter vehicles for distribution \_ no realistic attitude to traffic problems in transport. Motor cars and lorries have a £ eos COeaTAe ona, = e Se Eee eal geass < ceo stac5 bc) 3aQ:ce OStguros Beg 220520 S585255253 92322059, ROUTE TES, =) BES TSLSSOSO SESH GER ORR RS CCEME TED see es .ess Beg ease es SEERSSEQES TESS OB ag oa SKEEEEA LS jul 0 one fod alte 855 ae Pesoas Os ceaeaOk SNP oS SHS, g°3 Sere 85 Fads SEBs SESS aber ss Gases ee teks SFOS ess APO SS FIGS 3 ONShee ecee SS osee Sok SE8 23852240 rK gsgoeee Ss Se ocean sass o Fe utaagaagsegss = et ‘ Sse 3 ° Sten Beteo Seiceicc piclecigecs’ Spee ga gfe cssect = * pS Pr « - A spokesman for the De- Shenk of the Environment told the Kentish Gazette: “In view of the effects which the order, if made, would have on local traffic, particularly in the Ae te ee an in- quiry will held, Any per- son interested will be able to appear or be represented.” But the Department added that a decision on the route of the Canterbury by-pass would be made soon. The chairman of the coun- cil’s Public: Works Committee, Cllr Alf Walker, said he was disappointed that the Minister had stepped in.” He feared that the by-pass might be affected by Govern- ment cuts in “spending, al- though news that’the route might soon be revealed prompted him= to say: “It looks as though threatening to implement the ban has got them off their backsides. We were making the ban to try to get a starting daté for the liy- pass.” $ The council, decision to bring .in the ban, made at last i meeting with a majority of only one vote, was also slammed by Can- terbury’s MP, Mr David Crouch, who described it as “a great mistake.” _Mr Crouch said this week: “I can’t understand the council taking such a de- cision, particularly after’ Mr Peyton came to Canterbury personally ‘to present the plans for the by-pass and to discuss with the council the plans for the city, ‘The Government’ has given the by-pass a top priority rating and this de- cision is, to putiit mildly, dis- courteous and’. politically very foolish. © + “It may have the effect;of irritating at-least-the Minis- ter’s advisers. 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Se° 43 eo ym from |. | d to “The Secre- “Campaign, . : “and the Department of the Environment — Regional Controller Roads and Transportation South Eastern 74 Epsom Road Guildford Surrey GU1 2BL Telephone 0483 (Guildford) 71101 ext 274 Telex 85335 Your reference B A Lewis Esq om 2 Our refere Taig traers DSB 200/09/TR 34/036 Bridge Date CANTERBURY 2S semuary 1974 Kent | | Dear Mr Lewis CA My i ember about traffic conditions at Bridge, , I refer to your letter of 31 Deo whist et you have an earlier-reply “to your 2, Tam sorry that it has not~been possible to 1 reply ‘letter of 10 dotober about the possible provision of Famer ies nee ‘on'Town Hill. As you say, these markings were provided on 8 bei ae x 4 to carefully examine the experimental basis and it has therefore been necessary et effect which they have had on traffic speeds before further markings are laid in similar circumstances, Traffic speeds on Bridge Hill have therefore been kept under Gakeetion since the markings voce laid and the results of these observations and _ of speed measurement tests which have been taken have now been evaluated, These clearly show that the markings have had little ‘or no effect on the speed of traffic on the trunk road and in these circumstances, it is not proposed to provide similar markings on Town Hill as you have suggested. suet 3. I am afraid that I am not at all clear as to what you mean by "some form of _ positive speed control". Many additional road safety measures have already been ‘provided at Bridge, including further warning signs and 'buffer' speed limits and I am of the opinion that these are quite adequate to warn motorists of conditions _ in the village. It is now really a matter for the police to ensure that the safety “measures now in force are adhered to. I certainly do not think that the provision of _ any more road safety measures would be of any real use as this would only result in such a proliferation of road signs and markings on the approaches to the village _ that they would only confuse drivers and would reduce the effectiveness of the measures now in force. The only real solution to the problems is, of course, the construction of the by-pass. Providing that this is not affected by the recently announced economies in public expenditure, it is still expected that work will begin in the early summer. ‘Yours ‘sincer ely K M J FINBOW if for Regional Controller ‘ This paper is suitable for Dyeline photocopying The |A2| Group Chairman: Hon. : John Purchese, Ra RENCE it Mill Cottage, Bekesbourne, 1 Hi i Canterbury, Kent Canirbdey nicen tees We care about the A2 Trunk road to Dover from the M2 Please reply to:- 1, High Street, Bridge, Canterbury, Kent. CT4 5JY. 29th January 1974. artment of the Environment, o Epsom Road, ord, Thank you for your letter dated 25th January ly writing to you today is perhaps significant ‘Bi x TIR accident occurred in Bridge high street this mor I am disappointed with your decision concerning y he light of these two facts, I urge you to reconsider your de Concerning paragraph 3, I am sorry that you have not. xrstood my "some form of positive speed control", I was retaigs bher the introduction of additional bars, or some other £ rm of ontrol equally as effective as the bars now operating on Bridge he decision as to what form this would take is naturally yours. ; I agree of course that the only solution to the Bridge ffic problem is the early construction of the by-pass, and trust + the preparatory work is still progressing as planned. ‘ Yours sincerely, @ Brian A, Lewis: - Pee : Sec/freasurer, Aeroer. ~- —.S. Would you be good enough to let me know when the minister a We expected to announce his decision on the cut-back in public spending- witn special reference to Bridge by-pass? Nae: CANTERBURY SOUTHERN BY-PASS INTRODUCTION 1. The Department of the Environment is considering proposals for a new A2 around the south of Canterbury. This proposed Folks WOuld join the ty BaRATTE ES constructed shortly at Harbledown to the west of Canterbury and Bridge to the east. Follow- ing the decision by the Secretary of State for the Environment to introduce extended arrangements for public participation at the early stage of the planning of road schemes this publication sets out the alternative routes for a new A2 route south of Canterbury. The Department invites comments from the public and local authorities on these alternatives so that their views can be taken into account by the Secretary of State in coming to a decision. The questionnaire in the back of this publication may be used to register views and comments. BACKGROUND 2. The A2 is one of the two trunk roads serving the Channel port of Dover, It has been improved to near motorway standards from the outer suburbs of London to just west of Rochester, where it connects to the M2 which continues east to Brenley Corner some 7 miles west of Canterbury. At this point traffic bound for Thanet leaves the A2. The likely future traffic levels do not warrant the continuation of the M2 or a new high standard all purpose road on a completely new alignment between Brenley Corner and Dover. The De- partment has however been concerned to improve the route from Brenley Corner and schemes which are programmed to start next year will provide a road of dual carriageway standard to Harbledown on the western outskirts of the city. To the east of Canterbury, work will start next year on a dual carriageway by-pass to Bridge and an improved road is planned to be completed from there to the ferry terminal at Dover by the end of 1976. 3. Within the City of Canterbury, Rheims Way and the Ring Road are dual carriageways but there is some congestion at the junctions. The New Dover Road approach from the east passes through a predominantly residential area, where heavy lorries travelling to and from the cross Channel ferries cause considerable disturbance. The proposed Channel Tunnel and extension of the M20 to Folkestone should provide a measure of relief to the A2 but the volume of through traffic will still be considerable. : 4. In September 1971 the Secretary of State appointed Consulting Engineers (Brian Colquhoun & Partners) to investigate an alignment for a new trunk route to the south of Canterbury in sufficient detail for such a route to be protected from development under the Planning Acts. A by-pass to the north of the City has not been considered in detail because of the significantly greater length of any northern route and the relatively difficult nature of the ground. 5. Three main alternative routes for a possible southern by-pass of Canterbury have been developed as a result of the work of the Department’s Consultants and these are described below. TRAFFIC 6. In 1969, the Canterbury Ring Road carried about 21,000 vehicles per day. It is fore- cast that this could rise to 30,000 vehicles by 1978 after the completion of the M20 to Folkestone and 33,000 vehicles by 1991 even after completion of the Channel Tunnel. If a by-pass was built, it is forecast that it would carry between 8,000 vehicles and 11,000 vehicles a day by 1991, whilst the remaining traffic on the Ring Road should not exceed 22,000 vehicles a day. These forecasts for 1991 do not take account of the additional 14. ROUTE C also leg e a i railway and tise on embankment and viaduct over the Ashford Mited te ava rr ate River Stour, With its greater height and length of viaduct, ROUTE C would OBE te more intrusive than the other routes as it crossed the Stour Valley. The route would ist e the south of the development along the A28 at Thanington and then continue in deat easterly direction avoiding the ribbon development in Newhouse Lane and Nackington Road It would bridge Cockering Road, Newhouse Lane and a lowered Iffin Lane and pass under Nackington Road, the level of which would have to be raised. Then following the general contours of the land, it would meet route B to join the western end of the Bridge By-pass A junction between ROUTE C and the A28 Thanington Road or a possible Wincheap Radial would not be worthwhile as this would mean a long detour and would therefore be unattrac- tive to traffic. In addition any such junctions would be large and unsightly because of the steep rising ground. 15. The following table sets out comparative costs and route distances and the relative merits of the three routes as seen in the light of information available at present. In eco- nomic terms ROUTES A AND B give better value for money because of their shorter length and greater benefit for traffic. STANDARDS 16. Presently predicted traffic levels are unlikely to justify the construction of more than a single carriageway by-pass except at the western end of ROUTES A OR B where, if a junction were provided to a possible Wincheap Radial, dual carriageways might be required. However, should a scheme be included in the Trunk Road Preparation Pool, further design and planning work will be needed and this will cover the standards to which a by-pass should be built. Footpaths and tracks would be diverted where necessary to existing road crossings but the Pilgrims Way would be carried over a by-pass on a bridge. LAND COMPENSATION ACT 17. Ifa road is constructed on any of the routes compensation would be payable to those who qualify under the 1973 Land Compensation Act. Notes on the provisions of this Act are available at the places where this publication is on deposit. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 18. Copies of this publication have been deposited at the offices of Kent County Council (County Hall, Maidstone), Canterbury City Council and Bridge Blean Rural District Council, as well as at the post offices in the Canterbury area. 19. The Department of the Environment has arranged for an exhibition of plans, drawings, photographs and a model of the 3 alternative routes to be held in the Slater Art Gallery (Beaney Institute) in the High Street, Canterbury on the following days:— Friday 16 November 10am—8 pm Saturday 17 November 10 am — 4 pm Monday 19 November 10am— 8pm Tuesday 20 November 10 am—4pm Admission is free and you are invited to attend. 20. You are requested to complete the attached questionnaire and return it by Friday 4 January 1974 to the Department of the Environment, GPH Division, Room P3/102, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3EB. The views of the local authorities, other statutory authorities and local voluntary organisations are being invited on the alternatives. Comments received will be considered and reported to the Secretary of State for the Environment. 21. Should a decision be taken to prepare detailed designs on a preferred route for a new A2 by-pass of Canterbury, there will be further opportunities for the views of the public to be expressed when draft Orders under the Highways Acts are published. These will be open to objection and if necessary a Public Inquiry can be held into the draft Orders. " eel, 97 ~ 8E3NO) FEES OY EEO A a Wanuanouads/ Te) “\AUQIAELN , YOO L - aj29S fh YS OBOE bcd Pa hme OO ty SAIQeUIeIIY] PA QUESTIONNAIRE ON CHOICE OF ALTERNATIVE ROUTES CANTERBURY SOUTHERN BY-PASS (A2) Department 0 Room P3/102 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3EB f the Environment (1) The Consultative Document an routes and their likely effects, important in deciding between d the exhibition at We would now lik alternatives, and PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTIONS BELOW BY PUTTIN G TICKS IN THE APPRO- PRIATE BOXES; THEN SEND THE C 4 JANUARY. 1974 GRE OMPLETED FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS BY AND IT IN AT THE EXHIBITION OR AT THE COUNCIL OFFICES, OR MAIN POST OFFICE, HIGH STREET, CANTERBURY. What you say will be carefully considered before any decision is taken. Which 3 of the factors listed below in alphabetical order do you consider most important in choosing a route? Canterbury explain the possible alternative e to know which factors you consider most which route you prefer. a. Agricultural interests b. Amenity and recreation c. Cost d. Demolition of property e . Effect on property close to, but not physically affected by the proposed road aad . Noise and pollution g. Traffic needs h. Any other factor (please write here) Which of the possible routes shown on the plan (3) | would be your first choice? Which of the possible routes shown on the plan (4) would be your second choice? A think your home or other property owned or ap eee by ae would be adversely affected by any (5) of the routes please indicate which one(s) Please give your name and address. 2) Re cceeenseonsecscnceccccas acca cael If you wish to contribute more please do so in the space below. Ty ' THE ‘TORONTO STARS: A S* Mon, Aug, 6, 1973 " Pg JUGGERNAUT ROAD | WIDENING PLAN” Further improvements to the 7 rope-bound trucks start thundering through attwo in the morning. “At that time of night they travel at minding him how many days were left before Britain joined the Common world. week . we Market and the truck traffic increased received a letter from na ‘ AQ Me sore Renting reer ; ° vin cross-Channel juggernaut Jor: PS mA ries, were announced. by the neessant [ruc ing iy Environment Department yes- 5 terday. 7 ' ‘ Kent county council has been Fat : authorised to accept a £655,981 6 ~ J > e contract. which = will help ‘ eliminate overtaking dangers | = es vO meg m by widening a three-and-three- = > . | quarter-mile stretch of the road = : t between Out Elmstead ‘Lane, = } ‘ Barham, and Oak Pollard, south = e : : east of Canterbury. Work i$ ex- = 1 age = pected to take about 12 months, By FRANK JONES bypass built around the village. A be — Star staff writer thousand people staged a sit-down pro- N ng t pi @ me sty bah, test in the main, street and brought Oo 'y ,| 4 BRIDGE, England — Britain’s entry traffic to a halt’ after last year’s gro- P d ; into the Common Market has brought cery store crash, and Purchese’s pro- = motorise nothing but danger and discomfort to test group sent letters to the cabinet © A / this little Kent village where the Eu- mainte reapopaible every month re- Z mastodons 2 = = between 50 and 60 miles an hour,” even’ more. = la, enclosing a news- said school teacher Gordon Lewis, The central government has finally = [sede Aigo ab hp Ree whose bedroom window is only four feet from the passing monsters. “‘The whole house vibrates.” Picturesque Bridge is unlucky enough to sttaddle the main Dover-to- London road and is contending with a 20 “per cent increase in heavy truck traffic to and from, the continent:in the last six months. ‘A hell on earth: The .32-ton= tractor-trailers, roaring through every 50 seconds, have turned the lives of the villagers into a hell on earth. Britain's Consumers Associa- tion, after tests, Have judgedit one of the six noisiest places in Britain—no- isier even than centfal London. And worse may, be in- store: Transport: ministers from the nine Common Market countries are expect- ed to meet in October to ‘settle a long-standing dispute over maximum truck sizes, on. European toads. It’s expected that Britain will have to bow to “its partners and agree to an in- crease to 40 tons from ‘the present British maximum of 32 tons. Even without that happening Bridge is a village of fear-where everyone says almost unconsciously ‘‘mind the traffic” to visitors, and painters refuse to repaint the deteriorating houses on the main street because of the danger of being hit on sidewalks which are only 18 inches wide in places. Last week a giant tanker went out of control on the hill leading down to Bridge and shoved a dozen cars into each other concertina-fashion, Luckily there was nod loss of life. Three weeks ago a big meat truck trying to squeeze though a narrow gap on Bridge’s main street, side-swiped another truck which ran ‘right into Cyril Prickett’s fresh produce store, demolishing the front. The village clown speaks “Well, that’s progress,’’ said Prick- ett, who is known as the yillage clown. ; Last year a 32-ton tractor-trailer went out of control in the village, destroyed a grocery store which has J never reopened, killed the driver, and came within inches of killing a girl sleeping in a bedroom oyer the store, And two weeks ago. on the highway south of Bridge three young soldiers were killed when a big continental * tractor-trailer missed a bend and fell ontop of their car. “We seem to be ledding a charmed life,’ said John Purchese, who started a traffic protest group in Bridge 10 years ago after an elderly man was knocked down and killed just outside Purchese’s house on the main street. No one from the village has been killed in recent years. But statistically speaking there’s bound to be an ap- palling accident soon.’ The clerk of the local rural district council, Iyor Soilleux, has warned Britain’s department of the environ- _ ment, Which is responsible for the Toad. “We are going to have another agreed to build bypasses around Bridge and a string of other villages on the tortuous stretch of highway, but it will be at least two years before they are completed. In the meantime Bridge residents will continue to experience in extreme degree the horrifying fate which has overtaken thousands ‘of ancient, slum- bering British villages in the last two or three years. . With the arrival of; Britain’s express- ways, trucking companies’ switched to the big tractor-trailer units familiar to North Americans. But once they’re off the expressways «the “juggernauts”” as they are called ‘in Britain are back on winding, narrow ‘roads that often ha- ven’t changed since horse and cart days. thundering through Bridge. Miss D. Cole, of 14 Osborne - Street, Ottawa, sent us a copy. of the article which ap- peared in the Ottawa Citizen under the banner headline: Lovely English _ villages yielding to onslaught of the juggernaut. Said Miss Cole: “As a former resident of the Can- terbury.area, this article caught thy a: camo ate 4 Tegularl: 1 _ “T-used to travel” y-, juggernauts - ing along the A2 like a herd of stampeding buffalo. Since, however, herds of stampeding buffalo ‘have be- come quite ‘rare, one pray that man may even- tually accord the same status to thundering juggernauts.” A sentiment many of us may share! Pounded to pieces Old villages with narrow streets are being pounded to pieces, with trucks = regularly knocking corners off houses and intimidating pedestrians on single- file sidewalks. Many British trucks are hopelessly underpowered, belching out clouds of black smoke at the slightest hill, and the police seem helpless to: enforce pollution standards. Bridge, which is approached down- hill at both ends and has a compara- tively straight main street, invites dis- aster as truck drivers roar through at well above the 30-mile-an-hour limit to get a start on the hill the other end of the village. “Our place is being knocked to bits,’ “said Sid Hogben, 71: ‘‘Picturés fall off the wall, things fall off shelves, and our ceilings have ‘fallen down. several times.” , “We dare'not have a handle on the front .door,’’ said Lewis, who has three children. ‘‘We'’d be afraid the children would open it and run out on the street,”’ The road surface in Bridge is break- ing up under the pressure and every time an empty car transporter passes it sounds like a steel mill falling down as the trailer bounces over the pot holes, Truck drivers from the Ford Motor Co. felt so badly about what was happening they even sent a dona- stion to the Bridge protest grou zi o are cP 4. 20 mp.h, limit asked The group has now demanded a 20-mile-an-hour limit for the village, more radar traps, stricter enforcement of safety regulations and loading lim- its on trucks going on and off ships at Dover, MS acs | Last weekend protesters crossed the Channel to Calais to hand out leaflets to foreign truck drivers warning them of dangers on the Dover-to-London road—mainly as a gesture to embar- rass the British government. But with the bypasses promised, the government seems unwilling to do anything more. The council at Canter- bury where the Dover-to-London road goes through part of the town, has ; Bridge By by-pass “15 Sir, In the Clty Lawrence Shirley was reported as ) congratulating Bridge-Blean RDC me! TS, its officers and the local Press for their efforts in making Bridge by-pass possible. While agreeing that such congratulations are due, I was surprised at the omis- sion of the paigners. Having rarely seen Cllr Shirley’s name in print’ with regard to the much-needed road, I would have thought that the persistent A2 Group were at least - worth a mention, © ? oe I am convinced that were it not for A2 Group workii closely with our MP, “Mr David Crouch, the by-pass would still be years away. PETER T. SKELTON. The Cottage, 41 Shalloak Road, Broad Oak. Kentish Gazette, leading cam- OUOeRUAANLAUENPAEOUADUESEGOODOGSELELSSASHQIDESUEEEENOADOGOOUADASASESESESECQUOOQOOOEOOOUTEEOUEOOGOOGOOSUOUO OU GSCGOOOOOOGDUCOGAOEEEELAAGUCAAOMAALCANNAGUA ni Ange ST rr TLL LLL LLL ia PLL LLL SO i ordered a byl ‘fled In a Welsh Scalite t Were portion. But. ined of the 1966). We -live ‘at crisis can aha environment says it will merely issue day.” an order setting aside the bylaw. But for years the villagers “We're on Britain's doorstep to Eu- : got no- rope,” said P rk) where with their battle to have a patie muddy arr ey AUOUUUUAANNASANLLLUULUGOASiGASGASANSERDNSLOLLALNVLINUUNN AHHH Antena & os ~ BRAKES SLAM ON CITY ko ahs JUGGERNAUT BAN? SOME city councillors want to slam on the brakes over Canter- bury’s planned jugger- naut ban. ‘Three of them are urging the full council to throttle back and drop the whole thing. Their recommendation goes to the authority in a minute from the Public Works Committee. ‘The city council, at its last meeting, reversed an earlier committee proposal to do just this — and plumped for pressing on to make the order effective on 1 March. of the order was to stop juggernauts and other heavy traffic using the A2 Public Works Committee will ask that buses, public service vehicles and breakdown lorries be exempted from the ban. While the city council's deci-+ sion is awaited, Town Clerk Mr. Christopher Gay has been on Cun aA veal evidence to re: al ssibl public inquiry. At - Mr. Gay has also been asked to seek an undertaking from Mr. Peyton that a Canterbury by- pass will not be held up under Government cuts in public ex- penditure. Chairman of the Public Works Committee, Cllr, Alf Walker, told the Kentish Observer on Monday that they had been assured by local M.P. David Crouch that the city by-pass would not be cut back. However, Clir. Walker added that he understood Mr. Rippon had said he would be looking at the matter again. If there was a cut back, it would lead to a row in Canterbury, said Cllr. Walk- er. Be iS i He said his committee had felt it would not be possible for the city council to implemerit the juggernaut ban, and a blic inquiry would not be held for some time. “By then, it would be out of | our hands anyway,” he added. | The new Canterbury District Council takes over on 1 April. ELECTION FEAR FOR_ THE FORTHCOMING General Election is ‘A2 GROUP“ through the city from it date. causing concern with the decision has led to. a the A2 Group, who fear dates, underlining the impor- “Tur . \ 5 ‘ge you, therefore, to use a eee a Government’ shake. tance of the A2 issue. the A2 issue as being the prime oaent vyton. He said in the letter that an objective in your constituency | partment of the Environment up) could affect the announcement was still awaited mandate.” = Hegbestar peste So! schedule for building onthe cut-backs in public spend- Mr. Lewis concluded that the be ‘until after ti eS A2 by-passes ing. problem was no longer a local a public inquiry : “7 fully appreciate that the issue, but anational concern. had been held on the matter — would make a decision one way or the other. rs SECRET ‘Three men behind the Public bated in camera —xdespite ob- jection from Cllr. Bernard’ Por- ter — at the last meeting of the committee. city council to kill the ban was carried by three votes to two. If the authority refuses to, let the order fall, however, a sec- ond recommendation from the Mr. Brian Lewis, secretary of the A2 Group, has written to Canterbury’s M.P., Mr. David Crouch, and the Labour and Libgral parliamentary candi- Juggernaut traffic soars Despite economic problems and shortages of fuel the flow of heavy lorry traffic through Dover increaséd by 20 per cent last year. Compared to the 1972 figure of 156,581 lorries, last year’s total soared to 188,042, During December alone, 14,706 heavy vehicles passed through the port, 2,453 more than in 1972. For the second year run- ning, the harbour handled more than one million holiday cars. The total of 1,008,052 represents a 0.46 percent increase. There was,a 4.20 per cent rise in the number of passen- gers using Dover, bringing the total to a’record 5,707,088. Tonnage of cargo, both ex- port and import, through Dover rose during the year from 2,629,809 to 2,827,722, a 7.53 per cent increase. RE 274 coming General Election may play a major part.in this deci- sion, and I am extremely con- cerned for the planned scheme of A2 by-passes. lA Gallop Poll on £2. bridle path to Europe IT was a sort of Gallup Poll when Liberal candidate Mrs. Sarah Goul- den took to horse- back to rein in a few more votes. Her canter through Canterbury on Sunday had a political point. The A2, with its juggernauts crunching the pavements, choking the air, shattering the peace and, sometimes, killing people, is a frequent talking point nen when candidates get T l Ke round to local issues. The road has been called i unne mnTk “the bridle track to 5 Europe’’ because its trouble country-lane nature seems out of place |. A big question mark now between the M2 and the hung oyer the Channel Tun- autobahns of the Conti- | nel Project, Mr Rees, Dover's nent. Conservative candidate, told i a Press) conference on Mon- MEETING day. : _. Mr Rees said the. world fuel crisis put a different light on Channel Tunnel traffic forecasts. These, he said, must be reviewed. Shipping companies had no intention of pulling out, he emphasised. .“We shouldn't be too pessimistic: about. the future of er,” Mr Rees stréssed,’ vehing Mrs. Goulden decided to test the “bridle track’ theory, and proved that you can take a white horse almost anywhere — and pullina crowd, From Harbledown she trotted Neptune, a 17 hands grey, down the A2 round Canterbury and on to Bridge for a village green meeting with voters, and he added: “An: which takes pressure off the east Kent roads system must. be a plus.” : ‘Councillor appalled by m | drop city A2 lorry ban CANTERBURY Council has called for a public in- quiry into its controversial plan to ban heavy lorries from the A2 within the city, despite a watning irom. an official that it was unlikely to win! By just one vote the coun- ‘cil made the request on Wed- nesday, adding that it wanted the hearing before the end of the council's life on March 31. The move came from Cllr oP oat toa OE was “ a a) "a a recommendation «of the | Public: Works Committee ‘to drop the ban. At the” last council. it Shad deen By push. ahead with the order banning { “ire aureeretgooe that “Bec! { ey t a | sion “ees a the Pub- lic Works mimittee| to make. all mecessary) prepara- tions for an inquiry. But. at the committee meet! on January. 22,.there had in coun fs who had “laughed it off and 4 pte ‘Peyton ver the city's have in possession,” said Clr} mer, *“a,. letter from the De tf. the Enviro: f point at the time that it was @ whitewash exercise.”” Clr Chris Stanley'said that meeting of the Public & it was’ reason why the ba 24 alter- we don't want bask too definite Nkelihood that the evidence ‘is much more likely to disprove the colincil’s case than prove it.” Asked the financial impli- eations of an inquiry, Mr Christopher Gay, the Town Clerk, said there was the possibility of costs being awanled against the council if it lost, “The ,legal costs could be very considerable, and in any event there, would be a considerable, cost to the rate- payers in the préparation of the case ‘by ‘your officers,” he added. Cllr Brie Hanscomb said most of the objections to the ban had come from. “in- terested parties,” The council had dropped the tidea when the Minister; gave, thd as- surance of a 1976 start date for the ate “but now that’s pie in the sky.” ‘To'say that those who were against the ban» were “cowardly and: obstructive” was denied by Clir Archie Stoakes. He had thought long and hard about the ban, as he was sure | had others against it, and had come to _that conclusion as the best ‘solution. || Cllr -Mrs_ Rita. Kilvert questioned if the committee ‘could stop a decision of: the full council. / Answering Mr Rhodes’ points about the time _ involved inp! ring a case, Cllr Mrs Kilvert said she was sure the local.. newspapers would be able to supply de- tails of accidents. Mr Peyton himself had said that the - A20 was an alternative route for heavy lorries: “We want this recognised,” “said Cllr Mrs Kilvert, ‘and want to stop them coming through our small town: » x e TOO LATE “We are told that the Can- terbury ratepayers could end up ‘paying quite a lot of money if we lost the case. But we know thatvin a lot of cases we don’t spend money until it is too late and people are dead... .¥* Cllr Fred “Whitemore said that he had always sup- ported the ban in the past, not because he thought it sould ever come into force, it in order to draw at- ntion’ to the city’s case. ‘But we have: now got to stage where this tactic ..pxhausted,” he said. It had in successful; and no.one (he council-had any doubt it. that..“We, should now as much pressure on the ‘rnment as ‘possible to he by-pass as quickly as. ble. 4c8. es e are told very clearly that the case ‘ht make will not hold; ore, to continue with 4H be to continue with ass and very expensive Stanley did not think ¢ made for the council officers would be shot 1 flames. He thought > could be fought on t of the lorries on ie ronment, rather than tistics. eer should not take a ‘stand and say we don't want the lorries in rbury, The inquiry will highlight the replant sapaign which eays n be CaPe hese lorries.” sman said the Ald earned Kl meee eee” at the previous council meeting. “Neither then nor here has he given KA Ia one constrictive view on how these juggernauts are going to get round Canterbury. “He is making some wild sort of Catne Suggestions that if Canter! olds an in- quiry a magic wand will be waved, emanating from this city, and these Juggernauts will stop coming. “The thing is Tantastic. Cllr Stanley ought to be very well aware of the latge rate in- crease that the Canterbury Laren! are going to be faced with, yet despite that he still says, ‘Right, let's waste some more of the ratepayers’ money and ‘spend it on a large piece of bluff!" e council ‘would never get the minister, to agree to a ‘block being ‘put on the road from Dover, said the alderman, and/added: “T can say definitely’ that when Hee engage in a game of luff, it’s a dangerous thing to do.” ‘i Ollr-Fisher said that at no time had he regarded the pro- posed ban as a bluff. “This was never my idea, I have always been sincere. It was never done asa publicity stunt.” : : He urged councillors to “search their. consciences about this and vote the way they feel they must vote.” The council agreed to ‘in- struct its officers’ to prepare fully all the details that will be required for. a; public in- quiry. The Department of the Environment will be asked to hold the Anguiry, before April 1 and coun: fs to be in- «structed on behalf of the City Council Ra ae Foreign . lorrymen warned THOUSANDS of leaflets havebeen printed by the Dover Harbour Board in ii languages drawing the attention of juggernaut lorry drivers ‘to the dangers of the A2 Dover- London road The leaflets state that whilé progress in tech- nology in both road transport and cross channel ferries has bought an incredible expansion of trade through the South East ports, its road. network has not kept pace. Drivers are urged to comply with speed re- strictions and drive with extreme care. The leaflet points out that suction produced by a large. lorry at over 30 , mph can draw a small child into the road On “Tuesday the A2 group’ said that while it welcomed the leaflets, it séémed to be ‘'poetic justice” as last year the Board had prevented the group distributing its own ‘similar leaflets in the Dover decks: It was greatly regretted that drivers entered the country by a 1974 port but on ‘‘a medieval road." Mrs. Goulden’s horsepower! €o 21-2-74 ELECTIONEERING horseride through Harbledown on Sunday by Liberal parliamentary candi- date Mrs, Sarah Goulden was “a gimmick with a serious pur- se.!! She joked: “This is Canter- bury not Coventry’ = a refer- ence to the famous ride of Lady Godiva, More seriously, she declared: ‘The A2 is possibly more impartant. 19 the face of rnment cuts. een doubt the Channel Tunnel will be delayed and we. eventually new decisions will made, making it a ral “only I, unit is also doubtful whether the proposed M20 extension will be built in the near future. So the A2 will remain the lifeline to Europe, and no doubt traftic wilt rease.’* ts Goulden stressed that the by-passes must not be axed, particularly Canterbury‘s, because of Harbledown’s posi- tion, They pat to be started as s possible. sotiMe. Peytan answered Mr. . ch that the Bridge by-pass % Sian be started as promised — , Pe can’t possibly know Rrrnetne will still have autho- rity to make this decision,“ she uated CAN4a4. anna coe ba tae aes nows NN ett Rae BROSON Ii vemNOLe teem Oe mene eee Le, Sawin’ invasion by transport trucks is alarming villagers of Bridge, England. ee U.K. villa ye must | he Common By PETER CALAMAT ~ Southam News Service _ BRIDGE, England — Be- _ fore the “juggernauts’’, this “was a lovely English village. » Nestled alongside ‘the Littl Stour River, the red brick cot ' tages and flintstone parish ‘church possessed the Ce ter of a tourist board poster. They still do, except that i" ‘For Sale’ signs are sprouting: on cottages along the main street and the church's aE: There's Folie lovely ‘about a village when 450 tractor - trailers roar daily down its- narrow main street, from 4 a.m. until after midnight. | This juggernaut onslaught — and that’s what the villag- “ers actually call it — is part of the price some ordina: their country can become p: of the new Europe. : | While Prime Minister Ed- | ward Heath extols new air- | ports, the Channel Tunnel and the Concorde SST, small towns on the highways con- necting London with the ports _ of Dover and Folkestone are | quivering to their foundations. Englishmen ‘are paying a a Vanes caer - “It's foreigners that are causing allthe bother,” says a gas station attendant, shout- ing directly into a visitor's ear to. make himself heard over theythunder of a moto- Tized cou tumbling past carying ish bacon to Lon- The load could e been from " Since 1971, ie ‘umber of vy: trucks passing ae port: of Do’ Tiss ‘being funnelled along nar- row Kent roads which — like the main street of Bridge —- hayen’t been widened since the Romans built: them centu- ies ago. 4 ‘The toll has been more ‘than naut near Dover. # But some country gentry haye only themselves to blame for the current predica-. ment. They form the back- pe 2s Bs Sse a come + arke cet p per bone of Britain’s anti - roads | lobby, which has blocked hun: © dreds of planning schemes to bypass such narrow - streeted villages with costly new high- | ‘ways. Now they are hoisted on their own petard. To continue ‘to. Oppose such bypasses means the. bucolic village - charm they admire will be ground — juggernaut wheels. - Yet a rear.- guard defence has been mounted against this ~ second’Norman invasion. — While the British may have to put up with more foreigners’ _ trucks} ‘they don’t want to put — up with even bigger foreign- -ers’ trucks, The British and ‘ Irish ‘are aligned against the {-of the European Econom- to be allowed by. _ 1980. The continental EEC f Hs members: want 40 ton jugger- ». nauts, allowed throughout the community. The two island maximum. That extra eight tons could | be a life - and - death decision for villages such as Bridge. pieces beneath — nations are battling to hold. the line at the current 32-ton | ke 4-13 More work on the A2 Work has started on the long-awaited improvements to the A2 between Barham || and Lydden, following the go-ahead given earlier this week by the Minister for Transport Industries, Mr John Peyton. Costing £656,000, the ~ ork | will remove the dangerous | Z-bend at Barham Cross- roads, which has turned. the junction into a notorious accident black-spot. It will link the existing dual carriageway, which ends at the, crossroads, to the new one leading into Lydden. Apart from this, old sec- tions of the A2 which were used in earlier dual carriage- way improvements, between Lydden and Out Elmstead Lane, will ‘be’straightened and widened. Announcing Mr Peyton’s decision, the Department of the Environment admitted that the existing single car- riageway road, scene of several fatal accidents, was narrow and that its inade- | quate visibility made over- \ taking dangerous. The improvements will mean both sections of the dual caragensy will be 24ft wide, and junctions will be made safer by building traffic islands and decelera- tion. lanes. Mr Peyton has authorised Kent County Council, whose Surveyor, Mr A.D. W. Smith, designed the scheme, to» accept the tender from Mears Construction Ltd. The work should be completed within a “year. 7? Tees But, caiah Mr M not believe “it will” But Mr LB. Cast dent of the i the Failwavtiok aid, because phe the railways for themselves.” Mr. Keith Spéed, ——— |. The-higher Mandarde = would: mean additional cost, but he believed the public was pre- / pared to pay the price.