Poorly thought-out and executed stealth tax traffic restriction schemes in Medway simply shift the school parking problem to other areas.   We absolutely support making school areas safer with respect to traffic but the schemes need to be properly thought out and executed.  Although this problem applies to all schemes in Medway and probably wider than this, what follows is from the example of the Richmond Road School Street scheme in Gillingham.

The signage is unfit for purpose when better alternatives are available by law.  The scheme acts as a money trap for people unfamiliar with the area and who believe that the road is a major thoroughfare.  It makes it virtually impossible for trades people, couriers, taxis, care workers, visitors and many other groups to visit residents in the area.

Given the available alternatives, we believe that these schemes are poorly designed and executed precisely to collect taxes, rather than to make the streets safer for our children.  There is no evidence that it has impacted the latter and we have made an FOI request to find out more.

We ask that the schemes are scrapped and people fully compensated, pending a full review and consultation.   We are fully supportive of the need to make schools safer at opening and ending times, but there are better alternatives to achieve this.  Here are a few that apply to the Richmond Road scheme.  Many of these have wider applicability.

·      Restore lollipop lady / men during school traffic periods.

·      Open safe cycle routes to reduce local traffic, enhance community wellbeing and cohesion.

·      Prevent illegal parking on corners of Devonshire / Cornwall Road using bollards.

·      Extra turning/parking spaces on Devonshire and Cornwall Road.

·      Remove restriction to Richmond Road and make Cornwall Road the ‘school street’.

·      Designated school parking areas.

·      Install barriers with school volunteers.

·      Redevelop the Dockyard railway line as a pedestrian and cycle way with attendant benefits for children and families trying to gain some respite from cars, urban living and parking anxiety.