EXCLUSIVE

By Hayley Robinson

An accident waiting to happen.

That's the view of residents after pedestrian guardrails were removed from Cook's Lane at the junction with Hall Close, in Milton Regis.

Kent County Council's Highways Services confirmed they were removed in two stages on Monday and last Wednesday because of a low number of people walking in the area and no definite crossing points.

But residents have hit back at KCC's claims saying young children and their parents regularly use the route as they make their way to and from Milton Court Primary School, in Brewery Road, which is at the top of Cook's Lane.

The railings were also put in place as a safety measure more than 20 years ago following a campaign.

Robert Cook, of Hall Close, said: "I don't understand what the council is saying. People from the school and those going to Asda use the road and if you come down Cook's Lane from the school, the right-hand side is the only side with a footpath - it doesn't make sense why they've been removed.

"They were there to protect people."

Martin Charlton, of Hall Close, said: "There was no consultation at all they just came up with an angle grinder and cut them off.

"Milton Pipes is at the bottom of Cook's Lane and HGVs sometimes use Halls Close to do a complete U-turn.

They've hit the railings before so without them there's a concern they could hit a child." Alan Summers, of Cook's Lane, said: "My view is they need to be there because it's very dangerous.

"If they don't replace them I would say sooner or later someone is going to get hurt - it's an accident waiting to happen."

A KCC spokesman said: "Following guidance issued last year by the Department for Transport, the pedestrian guardrails on Cooks Lane at the junction with Hall Close were safety assessed.

"On site investigations showed that only a low number of people were walking in the area and there were no definite crossing points, so Kent Highway Services decided to remove the railings.

"The location will continue to be routinely monitored."