MAKE the new Sheppey Crossing safer. That’s the plea being made by from Kent County Council which is insisting that the Highways Agency acts quickly.

KCC Cabinet Member for Highways Keith Ferrin is pressing Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman for public reassurances about various concerns raised by Kent’s Chief Constable Mike Fuller.

Cllr Ferrin said: “Police have rightly raised safety concerns and, until these are properly addressed, drivers will be at risk.

“I have still not received satisfactory answers from the Government about the bridge’s safety.”

In letters to the Minister, the Highways Agency and Sheppey MP Derek Wyatt, Cllr Ferrin said urgent attention was needed over the bridge’s lack of lighting, lower speed limit, hard shoulders, emergency phones, and satisfactory barriers.

He added: “I feel it is important the bridge provides a safe passage for the commuting public and a safe working environment for the emergency services and the maintaining agents.”

KCC’s Highways Advisory Board has suggested that the county council “pursue the imposition of a 50mph speed restriction as the most practical means of reducing the perceived risk.”

But the Department of Transport says the curvature and gradients of the bridge and its approaches are consistent with a design speed of 70mph.