More than a decade of campaigning could finally come to an end for those demanding safety improvements to a busy road in Faversham.

Councillors and residents are preparing to present their proposals for West Street, and its junctions with Stonebridge Way and Davington Hill, after a series of accidents and near misses in the area.

With housing both sides and Davington Primary School just a stone’s throw away, the stretch of road by Stonebridge Pond is regularly crossed by parents and youngsters - many of whom have raised concerns about speeding vehicles and poor visibility.

It is feared crossing woes could become worse with more and more houses being built around the town, and so campaigners are pressing for improvements to be made sooner rather than later.

Hannah Ladd, a parent with children at Davington school, says action is overdue.

“Many parents with children cross the road here on their way up to the school,” she said.

“Cars coming round the corner from Tanners Street are not visible until the last moment and there have been a number of near misses.

“It feels like it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt.”

Now, St Ann’s ward councillors Carole Jackson and Julian Saunders are set to take proposals to the Swale joint transportation board meeting (JTB) at the beginning of March.

“While we were campaigning for last year’s elections we became aware of the strength of feeling about this issue,” Cllr Saunders said.

“Since becoming councillors, we have gained the support of the town council for a referral of this issue to the JTB, ensured that existing yellow lines which had been lost were repainted and worked with residents to identify possible solutions to the problems they face.

“We are hoping that at the meeting, KCC officers will commit to producing a report on the options for improving safety based on discussions with local people.

"Many residents have to cross the road here to get to the town centre, however, there is no safe place to cross because of the presence of two road junctions, two bus stops, an alley and residents’ drives, with poor visibility in each direction.

“Traffic volumes are increasing and, with more new housing on surrounding sites, will continue to do so.”

In 2015, a teenage girl was hit by a car in the area, and two cyclists have been knocked off their bikes in the last eight years.

Since November, a pensioner has been struck while crossing the road and two further accidents have resulted in serious vehicle damage.

Town and borough councillors, alongside residents, have been working to produce blueprints to improve the safety for pedestrians.

They are calling for an extension of the existing 20mph speed limit to the bottom of Dark Hill, alterations to the pavement, the installation of a crossing, and changes to yellow lines.

In support of this Cllr Saunders has set up a petition which, after just a week, is already 300 strong.

Improvement proposals will be made to officers and councillors at the Swale joint transportation board meeting on Monday, March 2.

To sign the petition, click here

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