Canterbury scheme to ban driving between neighbourhoods

Canterbury scheme to ban driving between neighbourhoods

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Discussion

vikingaero

Original Poster:

11,073 posts

175 months

Wednesday 12th October 2022
quotequote all
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/radic...

FYI - he was elected unopposed against no other candidates.

I don't know him personally, but many people/colleagues that have had business and Council dealings with him have said he is an utter moron.

joshcowin

6,886 posts

182 months

Wednesday 12th October 2022
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I am in Canterbury most days, we have several suppliers and projects in Canterbury! This doesn't work at all! It would massively increase my mileage and therefore pollution levels.

I also cycle in and around Canterbury, it's utterly rubbish, the bike lanes are in terrible condition meaning you use the road.

The crazy thing is all summer the congestion isn't present, school pick up and drop off and prime commuter times is the only time it's bad.

Local council being local council though, it will likely never happen.

vikingaero

Original Poster:

11,073 posts

175 months

Wednesday 12th October 2022
quotequote all
This scheme is to deter residents from driving. I don't live in Canterbury, but I'm aware of a few things.

Most of the supermarkets and retail parks are in Sturry ward.
The 5/6 neighbourhoods give rise to thousands of residents who will live next to these arbitrary borders.
If it's congested, it's because so many people from outside Canterbury are driving in. Canterbury is unique in that it's an urban island surrounded by miles upon miles of small hamlets, villages and towns where there are few shops and services. Many of these places have few or irregular bus services, so people use their cars. The closest urban areas are Ashford and the towns on the coast. Ever been shopping in Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate, Broadstairs or Ramsgate? I challenge you to visit Margate High Street for shopping and see if you spend more than 15 minutes there.

Tankrizzo

7,471 posts

199 months

Wednesday 12th October 2022
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I would be moving out of a city if they introduced rules like that, utterly barmy. For example his rule would force an EV to make a 15-mile journey instead of a 3-mile one.

bigandclever

13,926 posts

244 months

Wednesday 12th October 2022
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"The traffic proposals are envisaged to come into force in the 2040s" is all you need to know about whether it will happen or not.

Type R Tom

3,988 posts

155 months

Wednesday 12th October 2022
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Can someone explain why a community is only a community if point A and B can be reached by car?

Traffic in Canterbury is terrible, as someone who lives just outside all this, I use the train to go in with my family as it's cheaper and easier

Now waiting for the weaponization of the old and disabled to cover regular people not wanting to change their habits.

Not saying I fully support it but as always with these things, come up with a better idea!

We can't improve sustainable travel in the city without reducing the traffic, it's that simple.

ZedLeg

12,278 posts

114 months

Wednesday 12th October 2022
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Forcing people to take longer journeys and starting a huge road building project isn't in any way sustainable.

If they want more people to use public transport, bikes etc invest in that infrastructure, not bizarre punitive measures to dissuade car use.

Murph7355

38,736 posts

262 months

Wednesday 12th October 2022
quotequote all
vikingaero said:
...Canterbury is unique in that it's an urban island surrounded by miles upon miles of small hamlets, villages and towns where there are few shops and services. Many of these places have few or irregular bus services, so people use their cars. The closest urban areas are Ashford and the towns on the coast. Ever been shopping in Whitstable, Herne Bay, Margate, Broadstairs or Ramsgate? I challenge you to visit Margate High Street for shopping and see if you spend more than 15 minutes there.
I think a lot (possibly most) rural/semi-rural areas have the same issue. I'm North Essex, not far from the Suffolk border, and it's the same here. Shops in villages closed down/converted to residential, main decent shops a car ride away because the road infrastructure doesn't suit anyone cycling/walking and bus services are poor.

We've campaigned for better pathways to facilitate walking/cycling, but no dice to date (and it's not like it's needed everywhere...it's possible to walk beside the road safely for much of the distance, but crucial elements of it have gaps that are simply too dangerous to walk without change (even cycling's risky enough that you wouldn't do it with kids).

Not sure what the answer is. Encouraging shops back into villages would be a decent concept, but 'm not sure the trade's there. At least not without better non-car interconnects between villages.

Carl_Manchester

12,972 posts

268 months

Wednesday 12th October 2022
quotequote all
bigandclever said:
"The traffic proposals are envisaged to come into force in the 2040s" is all you need to know about whether it will happen or not.
hehe

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

267 months

Wednesday 12th October 2022
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Type R Tom said:
Can someone explain why a community is only a community if point A and B can be reached by car?

Traffic in Canterbury is terrible, as someone who lives just outside all this, I use the train to go in with my family as it's cheaper and easier

Now waiting for the weaponization of the old and disabled to cover regular people not wanting to change their habits.

Not saying I fully support it but as always with these things, come up with a better idea!

We can't improve sustainable travel in the city without reducing the traffic, it's that simple.
You can't improve travel by making it harder to get from place to place.

joshcowin

6,886 posts

182 months

Wednesday 12th October 2022
quotequote all
Type R Tom said:
Can someone explain why a community is only a community if point A and B can be reached by car?

Traffic in Canterbury is terrible, as someone who lives just outside all this, I use the train to go in with my family as it's cheaper and easier

Now waiting for the weaponization of the old and disabled to cover regular people not wanting to change their habits.

Not saying I fully support it but as always with these things, come up with a better idea!

We can't improve sustainable travel in the city without reducing the traffic, it's that simple.
Having thought about it for 5 minutes!

Improve bus services for schools, pay employers to offer their employees incentives for differing working hours, make the park and ride completely free, create a slip road off the A2 for the hospital (massive employer).

It's not that bad to get around at present but understand it will get worse!