Work to improve Sandwich’s traffic problems, including a new weight restriction for lorries, could go ahead in the next few months.

It comes after a document produced by Kent County Council’s head of transportation Tim Read and freight and network improvement officer Tim Middleton supported the Town Team’s findings.

Using the £80,000 allocated by Sandwich Town Council, the report confirms KCC intends to bring in a 7.5 tonne weight restriction, install three new “gateway” features to highlight speed limits at town entrances and multi-lingual signs on the outskirts of the town.

It will also carry out detailed analysis of Breezy Corner to try to better protect the historic buildings and pedestrians.

The report says: “KCC will advertise for a 7.5 tonne weight restriction across Sandwich.

“Providing there are few objections from the local community during the advertising period, installing the weight restriction can take place in the new few months.

“It is deemed sensible to time this with the installation of any gateways.”

Vehicles accessing a property in Sandwich, such as for deliveries, buses or emergency vehicles, will be exempt.

KCC says it will employ a consultant to look at the town and propose changes to improve traffic flow and make Sandwich a better place for pedestrians.

The consultant will also carry out detailed analysis as a first step to installing parking chicanes along New Street and High Street.

Mayor of Sandwich Cllr Paul Graeme, who has seen KCC’s full report, said it has been a long time coming.

He said: “It is great for Sandwich. Sandwich needs some traffic calming to look after the heritage.

“I have been very much involved with this and the Town Team who have formulated this strategy.

“With the support of our MP, KCC and the Town Team, we can now move forward and make Sandwich a much better place to live.”

KCC will now carry out a consultation for the changes.

Cllr Graeme added: “I hope all residents can and will support it as it can only improve Sandwich.”

Firefighters tackled a car fire on the A256 Eastry bypass on Wednesday. ROAD TEMP CLOSEDOne crew attended the scene at the Eastry turn off.A spokesman said: “We were called at 12.16pm to initial reports of a car in a bush.“Everyone was out of the vehicle when we arrived and a silver Mitsubishi space star was alight.”A crew wearing breathing apparatus used a hose reel jet and a fog spike to extinguish it.A spokesman for Kent Police said: “Officers attended to ensure public safety.“We left the scene at 1.05pm.”It is thought no other vehicles were involved.Police attended a separate incident involving a car and a lorry on the same road, near Whitfield, at a similar time.