A campaign to make changes to the main A26 between Tonbridge and Southborough has been launched with local residents campaigning for a number of changes including lowering the speed limit and new safe crossings. |
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Protestors making their feelings known |
A recent tragic death on the road brought local concerns to a head and led to the formation of the group.
The group has a number of changes it would like to see made to the road, including:
SPEED DOWN TO 30-MPH
INTERACTIVE SIGNS and SPEED CAMERAS ON A26
REPOSITIONING OF BUS STOPS WITH SAFE CROSSINGS
The group believe that making these changes will make the road considerably safer and improve
the lifes of local people. |
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Local resident Claire Dominic who formed the group said, ' I use this road daily, I have a team of about ten people working with me on the campaign. Local mums and business people, all of whom agree, for different reasons that we need to change the speed on this road down to 30mph. There are lots of people who use the road, in order to get across the road from one bus stop to another there needs to be a safe way of crossing.'
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Claire Dominic |
Fellow campaigner Bill Lush who lives on the Groundsoak Estate added, 'I frequently use this road to go to Tonbridge, there are a number of variations in the speed limits in a very short stretch of road. I recently came along the road and there was a cyclist, because the road is so fast but mainly single carriageway there was no room to overtake the cyclist safely.' |
Bill Lush |
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The campaign has only just begun, but already the campaign team of ten local people, have received hundreds of messages of support from as far afield as Cyprus.
Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark added his support to the campaign and said, 'Like everyone, I was shocked by the tragic loss of life and am delighted to support Claire Dominic and the "Safety First" Action Group to try to improve road safety on the A26.' He went on to say,
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"The campaign already has great support and the proposals being put forward need to be examined carefully - it is essential that we find a workable solution which will make it safer for all pedestrians trying to cross this very busy road.'
Campaigners are ready for a long fight, but they are determined that the changes they want should be possible. |
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The A26 Safety First Campaign |
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Click HERE to see a video report on the protest |
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For more information or to get involved you can contact:
A26 “Safety First” Action Group Leader,
Claire Dominic on (01892) 528738 email: safetyfirsta26@mac.com
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