by Hayley Robinson
hrobinson@thekmgroup.co.uk
A BOLLARD has been installed to stop motorists from driving on a pavement and putting the lives of pedestrians in danger.
Kent County Council positioned it on the path between Ridham Avenue and Reams Way, Kemsley, last week.
The work was carried out six days after the News Extra ran a story highlighting the issue.
The cut through, which links the two roads, has been sealed off with concrete pipes since the Chandler’s Croft development was built more than six years ago.
The route was intended to be used by buses but it was barricaded off while Kent County Council (KCC) looked into the viability of it. But in the last six months the concrete barriers have been moved slightly, allowing drivers to get around them via the path so they can reach the new Swale Way relief road.
Mum-of-two Debra Donnellycorr raised safety concerns after her five-year-old son Ryan was nearly knocked over by a car as they used the route to walk from Reams Way to Kemsley Primary School.
Mrs Donnelly, 35, says she’s delighted the work has been carried out so quickly.
She said: “I’m really impressed with how quickly they acted. The only way they can get around it now is by moving the concrete pipes out the way completely and that would be very hard going for someone to do so I think this will solve the problem.”
The road could be open soon though.
A KCC spokesman said: “We are in very early discussions with Arriva about the possibility of opening up Ridham Avenue as a bus link and will be carefully considering how this would be facilitated and any potential benefits this would bring for the bus operators.”

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