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Improved access to Thamesview Crematorium and Cemetery in Shorne, near Gravesend

By: Alex Langridge alangridge@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 19:45, 22 January 2023

Updated: 19:47, 22 January 2023

Calls from residents who said they were putting their lives at risk to mourn their loved ones have been answered.

New dropped kerbs have been installed by Kent County Council (KCC) near Thamesview Crematorium and Cemetery in Shorne.

Anna-Rose Mersh has welcomed the changes saying it will improve people's access

It comes after residents and visitors fought for improvements to the pavements and bus stops – one of which saw people getting off buses onto a grass verge on the side of a 50mph road.

Speaking previously, Anna-Rose Mersh who uses the 190 route to get to the site in Gravesend Road to visit her grandparents' grave, said it was a dangerous journey.

The 37-year-old added: "You cannot safely get off a bus here. You cannot safely cross the road anywhere, even on the crossings further down there is a high step.

Anna-Rose Mersh speaking to KentOnline in June 2022

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"How can you get a mobility scooter there? If someone is getting the bus, they are taking their life into their hands."

She added it was near impossible on a wheelchair or mobility scooter due to the uneven surfaces and loose gravel which can get underneath and affect the mechanics.

The special needs teaching assistant and health care assistant was calling on the council to improve the pavements so visitors using buses could access the crematorium safely.

Dropped kerbs have also been installed at various points along the crossing
Pavements have been re-paved along the grass verge

Since then, some of the kerbs on the road have been dropped and part of the pavements re-paved and made longer. The work comes following an assessment by KCC highway's team.

The team was looking to find sites where people could cross safely to access the crematorium and chose those most suitable.

Anna-Rose said: "It will vastly improve a lot of people's access to the crematorium, before it was only accessible for car drivers.

"It was not just about people getting to the crematorium, it was about a legal requirement for people to access to these places.

One of the bus stops used to let people off onto a grass verge
Concerns were raised over the state of the pavement

"It is very important to have clear pathways. It was alright if you were able-bodied but if you had got any sort of impairment and the pavement was not even, it was really difficult.

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"I am pleased these changed have been made. It should have been part of the infrastructure but it is very good that the dropped kerbs have been put in and it is accessible."

Two inactive bus stops have also had repaving works completed nearer to the crematorium but it is up to private firms if they wish to stop there.

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