April 2025 update: the new bus lane on Pencester Road is open as of tomorrow. I will update this petition again once the first accident happens. Let's hope it's not too serious.

The Original Objection

Despite objections, Kent County Council are insisting on digging up Pencester Road and routing the fast track bus down there on a new road system that is completely needless. 

The new route involves closing off the main route through the centre of town for months, from October until at least January. Once complete, it will remove parking from Pencester Road, mean buses drive the 'wrong' way down it and pavements have to be narrowed. At the same time, existing buses and traffic will compete on the road, going the other direction. It is insane and a complete waste of tax payers money.

I have provided background information to support this petition below, but in brief: Please sign this petition to ask KCC to scrap this ludicrous plan and keep their fast tack buses on the existing roads. 

UPDATE: These are the new plan scheme drawings, released in a KCC newsletter sent to local businesses (but not residents) on October 1st:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background information

Then original fast track proposal in 2020 showed the fast track buses going nowhere near the centre of Dover. In November 2023, it was decided by councillors that (despite local objections) the bus route would be changed to use Pencester Road, one of the busiest roads in the town for both pedestrians and traffic, as well as being the site of the town’s main bus depot.

Cost concerns

In Nov 23, Dover District Council estimated that this would add an additional £1.5 million cost to the fast track scheme. This would be fully funded by BSIP funding. This is central government ‘National Bus Strategy’ funding (i.e. tax payers’ money).

Now we are almost a year further on, this £1.5 million estimate will be way off because, as we all know, prices of building materials and wages have gone up. And with their current track record of being years over on the project and reports that they’re resurfacing part of the fast track road for the 5th time (it hasn’t even been used yet), no one has much faith that work will be completed to time over winter.

If the government is trying to fill a black hole left by the previous one, why doesn’t it save this money and pop it into the bank?

Safety concerns

There have been concerns raised about the safety of the Pencester scheme for pedestrians, as well as its impact on town centre businesses. There are cafes, shops and takeaways along Pencester road that will lose their parking once the scheme is finished, and lose all through traffic while the work is being done. Safety will also be compromised around Worthington Street and on the roads the traffic is re-routed on while the work is done (presumably Market Square - not specified by the planners yet).

MP support

In December 2023, speaking in the House of Commons, Dover MP at the time Natalie Elphicke said: “This is a poorly considered proposal that will add to traffic congestion, disadvantage older and disabled people, damage local businesses and shops in the town of Dover, and harm access to the church, including access for weddings and funerals and access to the world-renowned Pilgrims Way.”

Writing on her website, Ms Elphicke also said: “Dover District Councillor, Martin Bates, has also expressed reservations about the proposed scheme, highlighting potential impacts on small businesses, cyclist safety, and the efficacy of the proposed mitigation plan. Cllr Bates states: “This proposed scheme is flawed and needs urgently rethinking.”

Response to KCC Consultation

In November 2023, KCC launched a [24 day!] public consultation. The resultant report states:

87% objected to the contraflow bus lane. Those that gave reasons said:

• Will add to congestion in the area (33%) 

• Discriminatory to/dangerous for disabled/elderly/parents with pushchairs/pedestrians (25%) 

• Parking concerns/will affect shops/shopping businesses if parking isn’t possible (25) 

• Will cause accidents/it’s dangerous (22%)

• Will cause chaos/confusion (21%) 

• Impact on church/wedding/funeral cars/drop off facilities (19%).

 

82% objected to the changes to parking/waiting restrictions on Biggin Street, Maison Dieu Road, Pencester Road and Worthington Street. Those that gave reasons cited: 

• Parking concerns/will affect shops/shopping businesses if parking isn’t possible (29%) 

• Will add to congestion in the area (20%)

• Parking removed/there is already not enough (13%)

• Discriminatory to/dangerous for disabled/elderly/parents with pushchairs/pedestrians (11%) 

• Not enough disabled parking (12%).

 

78% disagreed with the scheme as a whole. Main reasons given were:

• Will add to congestion in the area (33%) 

• Discriminatory to/dangerous for disabled/elderly/parents with pushchairs/pedestrians (25%) 

• Parking concerns/will affect shops /shopping businesses if parking isn’t possible (25%) 

• Will cause accidents/it’s dangerous (22%)

• Will cause chaos/confusion (21%)

• Impact on church/wedding/funeral cars/drop off facilities (19%).

The report also found that 37% of people who drive into town use Pencester Road on street parking, which will be removed under this plan. They will be diverted to one of the council’s car parks: Pencester car park is behind the new proposed bus route, so there will be congestion when cars want to enter/exit it. Stembrook car park means driving down Maison Dieu Road, adding to the number of cars on this road, which is the main road through Dover town centre to the ferry port.

The council’s response to the consultation report was dismissive. It said:

• It is considered that the proposals will have little impact on traffic flows and congestion. The maximum number of Fastrack buses when the service begins would be three per hour. [So just use the existing roads! A free solution that causes minimal impact.]

• The proposed scheme has been designed with safety in mind. [Poppycock.]

• Unfortunately, the proposed scheme would require the removal of the disabled bays within Pencester Road… One additional disabled bay would be provided in Worthington Street. As alternative parking provision has been identified in Worthington Street and Pencester Road Car Park, the benefit to disabled and vulnerable bus users has been measured to outweigh the disadvantage to drivers. [No consideration given to how cars will get in and out of Pencester Road Car Park. This will no doubt also cause blue badge holders to just park up on double yellows to access the businesses on Pencester Road.]

• It is not anticipated that the proposals and reduction in the on-street parking facilities would negatively impact access to the shops and footfall within the town centre area. [Says who? People who never come here.]

• Not only is the Pencester route the shortest route available, but it also allows for the greatest opportunity to provide bus priority measures. [This means absolutely nothing: just waffle.]

• Where buses do arrive at the same time, the average waiting time whilst passengers embark/disembark is relatively short so it is not considered this would cause any significant delays to the bus services [Even with all these disabled people who will now be using buses in KCC's imaginary land? And what about the regular Stagecoach buses going the other way, and the cars?] 

Existing roads

There are existing roads that the (grand total of 3) fast track buses could use. DDC’s assertion that Ladywell is unsuitable because it is prone to congestion not really based in fact. Much of the congestion occurs around the roundabout at the bottom of Folkestone Road, and the fast track buses will still have to use this. 

Under the proposed scheme, they will also cause congestion at Maison Dieu Road when they come down Pencester to join it. 

And if the fast track scheme does not last (as many predict it won’t), then there will be zero buses on the contraflow route. So a pointless waste of money, effort and cause of stress and distress for local people and businesses.

Inadequate survey of new route

A KCC independent safety audit was undertaken. At the time of writing, I have not had sight of this, but it is said to have been “limited’ and based on a 1 hour site visit at lunchtime in July 2023 - totally missing peak traffic and pedestrian flows.

Ironically, KCC’s transport plan is called ‘Growth without Gridlock 2016-2031’

Hmm… looks good on paper, but they forgot to factor in people, cars and lorries heading into a town that’s home to the UK’s busiest ferry port. 2023 stats:

• 2.15 million lorries

• 1.58 million tourist vehicles

• 67.9 thousand coaches

Previous Dover examples of dangerous and poorly planned traffic proposals

• When KCC implemented an ill thought out and poorly planned cycle lane in Dover a few years ago, it lasted for around 1 week before it was removed and abandoned at unknown cost. During this time, there was a near fatality and a moped rider was airlifted to hospital on day one. 

• KCC also decided that Dover needed ‘parklets’ at around the time of the cycle lane fiasco (which also happened in other Kent towns, such as Ashford). These were hastily removed after complaints/concerns and safety issues. Into landfill presumably, and at what cost?

Herne Bay example

In January 2024, the BBC reported that a working group would be formed to address a new KKC travel scheme that residents claim has “broken the town in two”. Enormous red road markings were also painted into place, despite being dangerous for motorbikes especially.

In July 2024, it was reported on Herne Bay Daily Facebook group that: “All the road markings have been repainted, coach parking and public parking along with disabled spaces all restored outside the Pier. It’s great to see the seafront absolutely thriving again and our attractions accessible via our iconic coastal road. Whoever the halfwit was who thought it was a good idea to put a roadblock smack bang in the middle or our seafront and in front of 1 of our biggest attractions needs their head testing.”

Thanet Way examples

KCC announced a programme of maintenance on the A299 New Thanet Way and Chestfield Tunnel between late April and June 2023. “The works will upgrade lighting in the tunnel to LED and complete a deep reconstruction of sections of the road between Whitstable and Herne Bay, previously impacted by the weather. The A299 will be closed eastbound (coastbound) from 8pm on Sunday 23rd April to 5am on Friday 26 May 2023.”

IT IS STILL CLOSED (Sept 2024) and men just sit in vans with their feet up between checking that vehicles have not hit any of the cones. It beggars belief.

And check this one out: The new on-slip for the A299 Thanet Way at Herne Bay/Whitstable (being created because of a new build estate) is incredibly short. Dangerous. Scary. Ill thought-out. This is 70mph extremely busy road (this side of the road does not currently have lanes closed off).

Wincheap (Canterbury) example

The redesign of the A28 in Wincheap, one of Canterbury’s busiest routes, has been branded “absolutely ridiculous”. However, it hasn't yet begun... wait till that starts.

A249 example

To quote one commentator, who sums this one up nicely: “Anyone driving on the a249 will see road closures for weeks on end while a slip road is joined to a road that’s already closed… Anyone seeing signs saying “we are working out of sight” will know we are being treated like mugs.” 

Smart motorways example

National Highways figures suggest that if you break down on a smart motorway without a hard shoulder, you are three times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than on one with a hard shoulder. How much money wasted by making them safer? Who knows, but in April 2023, the government said: “Existing smart motorways will continue to benefit from £900 million safety improvements.” This was at the same time as it scrapped all new smart motorways.

In conclusion

There is shocking mis-management of roads infrastructure in Kent and the South East of England. However, this petition calls for KCC’s Mr Baker & Co to scrap the Pencester contraflow idea. Save yourself, Keir and Rachel some money and stop the heartache in Dover – come on!

UPDATE 5.10.24

Pleas see below for updates showing the lies everyone was fed at the start of the scheme, and proof that DDC were in fact given an enormous amount of funding for this by the government: