Councillors have demanded to know why no action has been taken over the misuse of the bus gates at Beaver Road and Godinton Road.

A debate over the problem, which has been ongoing for nearly a decade, became heated at last Tuesday’s joint transportation board (JTB) meeting.

In his report Kent County Council’s traffic manager Andrew Westwood said that motorists driving through the bus gates and the abuse of the restrictions was increasing the possibility of crashes occurring.

Funding was said to be in place for cameras to be installed but delays over installation was blamed on issues with legislation.

Godinton ward member Cllr Peter Feacey (Con) said: “We first discussed this at the JTB in 2004 and we seem to have got absolutely nowhere with it.

“I have been really underwhelmed by this report. I would have really liked a plan of action. I think we need to get on and actually do it.”

Cllr Bernard Heyes added: “It’s all very vague.”

Cllr Michael Claughton said: “We’ve been on this for so, so long. All I would ask on record is how long? How much longer do we have to wait on this?”

KCC’s Ashford district manager Lisa Holder said: “As I understand things the delay in this is really down to the legislation and the way it stands at the moment.

“I do believe Andrew Westwood, along with Ray Wilkinson, is looking to move this forward. It’s actually difficult to provide a plan of action because of the limitations within the legislation as it stands at the moment.”

A pilot scheme to trial camera enforcement using different legislation is taking place at Tunbridge Wells.

KCC will look at the Ashford bus gates after this scheme has been reviewed.
The Godinton Road site, over the railway bridge, uses traffic lights - with only buses and taxis allowed through while the Beaver Road site has a post in the road which drops to allow buses and taxis through.