Calls to ban lorries from A251 between Faversham and Challock
Frustrated campaigners are calling for trucks to be banned from a major route following a string of serious crashes.
They also fear more lives could be lost unless the A251’s 50mph speed limit between Faversham and Challock is slashed by 10mph.
It comes following two serious crashes on the carriageway this year, one of which saw a dad-of-two killed[1] and another which left two women seriously injured[2] after colliding with a lorry.
Marc Pearey, spokesman for The A251 Safety Group, said: “We regularly see lorries that are unable to pass one another or that hit each other right on our doorstep.
“We also take our lives into our own hands each time we drive out of our properties, and it is a regular occurrence that vehicles driving at 50mph almost hit us.
“How much more bloodshed does Kent County Council (KCC) need to see before they take action?”
The group – which consists of residents living along the stretch - is calling on the authority for a blanket reduction to 40mph between Faversham and Challock.
It wants a ban on HGVs between Faversham and Challock as a through route, however, they accept lorries will still need to access properties and businesses between.
Lorries often use the route as a cut-through to Canterbury, Ashford, Charing and Lenham.
Hazel Bellord, who has lived next to a stretch of the road near Faversham since 2019, says safety is a major concern.
“We can't ban all HGVs, it would be impossible - it would be great if we could, but it's not really feasible - but definitely the ones that are using it as a through route,” she said.
“We just don't want any more serious crashes or fatalities on this road.”
Members of the movement believe there is not enough width in the road to accommodate two lorries, and the additional layer of risk due to the size and weight of such vehicles poses a danger to traffic and residents.
CrashMap data from 2017-2022 shows 42 incidents occurred on the road with 58 casualties – this does not include those incidents not reported to the police, near misses, damage to property or animal injuries.
Suzanne Burton was first on the scene of the latter incident and told KentOnline she would “never forget completely” what had happened.
Mrs Burton said: “I just reacted by going straight out to the scene of the accident which was very difficult. I heard and felt the impact [in my house].
“We’ve noticed we've had a couple of near misses on a regular basis. The speed limit is another issue.
“You can't get out of your own driveway, the lorries cause delay and mayhem on the road because they can't pass one another.
“So I think it's a combined thing that needs to happen to produce a safer road for all of us to be living on and for everyone that is using it.”
As it stands, the current variable speed limit means stretches of road fluctuate between 30mph, 40mph and 50mph.
The group wish to see 40mph limits replace the 50mph areas, though the 30mph sections would stay as they are.
It currently has support from key figures in the community such as KCC councillor Antony Hook, prominent Swale Borough councillor Hannah Perkin and various parish councils.
Cllr Perkin, the prospective parliamentary Lib Dem candidate for Faversham and Mid Kent, said: "I fully support the campaign group and commend them on their hard work and tenacity.
“There have been two accidents on this stretch of road over the last three months, one of which led to the death of a much-loved ambulance driver.
“Each one of these statistics [58 casualties between 2017-2022] is a person whose life will have been changed by these incidents.
“Much more must be done to secure better safety for road users on this stretch of road.”
A spokesperson from Kent County Council said: "We are committed to working with communities to respond to concerns raised about the safety of our road network.
“Officers have been looking closely for patterns of behaviour and incidents on the A251.
“We will continue to monitor the situation, and investigate any potential changes which work within the confines of highway design criteria and the Department for Transport's guidance for setting local speed limits."
References
- ^ one of which saw a dad-of-two killed (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ two women seriously injured (www.kentonline.co.uk)