Plans to fix Sandwich’s traffic problems have been approved by authorities in the town.

The White Paper drawn up by Sandwich Town Team was approved by the town council at a meeting on Monday night.

The council pledged to fund phase one and two with money which comes from developers wanting to build in the area. The fund could be up to £80,000.

The Mayor of Sandwich, Cllr Paul Graeme, said: “This is a great opportunity to move forward and change Sandwich.”

Many residents came to show their support at the meeting including Steve Laslett, the Sandwich Shop owner who said the medieval town should be preserved. He congratulated the Town Team on its efforts.

He said Sandwich Chamber of Commerce supported the proposal and believed it would make Sandwich “even more special” and help bring in visitors.

Jamie Culver, estate agent at Regal Estates, also supported the plans.

He said: “The pedestrian experience in the town is awful, to say the least, with HGVs and buses.

“Pedestrianisation works for the town during events.”

He said it was important to make Sandwich more attractive and protect the heritage and heart of the town.

Stephen Ruston, a trader in Strand Street, also agreed with pedestrianisation, claiming that this would increase footfall by 40%. However, he asked the council not to undervalue the importance of parking and criticised the consultation process.

The plans will include a 7.5 tonne weight limit throughout the conservation zone with limited exemptions for deliveries and service vehicles.

There will be prominent signs and visual cues on the approach roads to discourage lorries from entering which could cost £3,000, and a re-think of how buses are deployed with a critical eye on size and emissions.

Traffic calming measures including bollards at Breezy Corner could cost £14,000 and gateways to stop lorries are estimated to be £12,000.

The second phase will see plans to make the one-way system safer for pedestrians with a shared space or pedestrianisation.

Consultants will be hired to figure out some of the finer details and volunteers are also being sought to take-on traffic surveys which could help bring the plans into action.

Not all councillors agreed with every part of the plans at the town council meeting.

Cllr Charles Miller voted against itas he believes the cost of some of the traffic calming measures is not necessary.

He said evidence from Kent County Council revealed that the average speed in Strand Street, High Street, New Street and Moat Sole was between 16.7mph and 18.1mph and no vehicles exceeded 24mph.

He said: “There has to be some evidence to back up the expenditure. It doesn’t meet the criteria in terms of accident prevention or reducing speed.”

Cllr Miller agrees with the proposals for stopping lorries but said he thinks Sandwich does not have a speeding problem that warrants so much money being spent.

He said: “I am hoping to work with consultants to make sure the right questions are being asked and use local volunteers to give them data.”

He hopes this will save thousands of pounds which the council can then donate to good causes in the community.