A new bus and cycle lane in Dover is being withdrawn after sparking complaints it was "poorly thought out and dangerous".

The route runs along Maison Dieu Road from Morrisons towards the new St James retail park and has garnered comments such as "accident waiting to happen" and "perplexing" for drivers.

This afternoon, a spokesman for Kent County Council, the authority which gave the scheme the go ahead, said post-lockdown traffic levels, Operation Stack and TAP had shown to be too much for the idea to work.

In a statement to KentOnline, the town council's Labour Group claimed numerous prangs had happened along Maison Dieu Road since it became operational on September 14 and another account said a cyclist and motorcyclist had been involved in collisions.

Labour attributes the main risks to vehicles having to cross the lane to turn left into roads such as Park Avenue, Godwin Road, Taswell Street and Castle Hill.

Plus, the buses that are supposed to be confining themselves to the lane have to drive out of it and into the right-hand lane by Maison Dieu Health Centre to turn into Pencester Road where the terminus is.

Cllr Pam Brivio of Dover Town Council said her observations as a driver and occasional cyclist warn her that the route is poorly conceived and dangerous.

"It is hugely disappointing that valuable resources could not be spent on resolving true safety concerns in the town of Dover"

She said: “At a time when requests are repeatedly made to Kent County Council for improvements and safety measures, we are told there is not enough money.

"It is hugely disappointing that valuable resources could not be spent on resolving true safety concerns in the town of Dover."

Mayor Gordon Cowan received unanimous backing to write to KCC, expressing the council’s opposition before the decision was made to remove the lane.

Ms Brivio complained there had been no consultation before the lane was marked out.

An earlier tweet by Kent Highway Services said the temporary scheme was due to last 18 months.

“Whilst the scheme was implemented to promote the use of cycling, reduced vehicular capacity had a detrimental impact on queuing and delays..."

It said: "The scheme is a result of UL Government funding to improve cycling facilities to promote active travel following the coronavirus pandemic.

"The scheme has been arranged at short notice due to the need to commit funds quickly without the usual level of engagement and consultation."

Bernie Mayall of Salisbury Road described the lane as an "accident waiting to happen".

She said: "In one day alone my daughter saw a cyclist in an accident, and a lorry hit a car, and an air ambulance was needed for a motorcycle accident.

"And if someone hadn't stopped their car to let me cross I would still be waiting..."

She added: "Foreign drivers must be perplexed, English drivers too come to that.

"Someone will be killed before long."

Other similar schemes have also proved unpopular and been removed, including one in Ashford where hundreds of people signed a petition against the Covid-19 pop-up lanes.

A KCC spokesman said: “We have decided to remove this temporary scheme and return both lanes to their previous capacity.

“Whilst the scheme was implemented to promote the use of cycling, reduced vehicular capacity had a detrimental impact on queuing and delays.

“Officers have been monitoring this regularly and adjusting the signal timings appropriately, but with The Dover Traffic Access Protocol (TAP) in place we are of the view that the trial scheme would cause adverse congestion on local roads. Therefore, the decision has been made to remove the scheme.

“We still see the benefits of promoting cycling in Dover, but post-lockdown traffic levels, Operation Stack and TAP have shown to be too much for this location to continue as planned.

“All of the active travel schemes are all of a trial nature, giving us the opportunity to lock in some of the positive travel patterns we have seen during the pandemic.

“All schemes are being monitored and all comments are noted and considered.

“We apologise that we cannot always give a detailed reply to every piece of correspondence received at present but you can email the team directly at activetravelfund@kent.gov.uk”

A cycle lane does already exist through the middle of Dover.

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