LATEST INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED ST MARKS AVENUE ONE WAY.You will remember at the end of August we sent out a consultation letter asking for residents’ views on the desirability or not of a one way system around the local roads in this area. We must stress that this was not a “Council proposal.” but your locally elected Labour County Councillors, Leslie Christie and Ray Parker asking local residents for their views on an issue which local residents had raised with their Councillors. The letter posed one possible solution of having St Marks Avenue one-way for vehicles entering from London Road to Cremorne Road and St Marks Avenue/Beresford Road being one-way from Cremorne Road exiting on to London Road. Marina Drive could continue to be two way. We stressed that this was only a suggestion and if the principle was supported Kent County Council professionals would be asked to consult on proper plans.We issued approximately 430 consultation letters (one per household) with return cards and we are very pleased to report that, as at 30th September 2007, 192 cards (45%) were returned. This is a much higher return than usual in this type of consultation, particularly as returnees had to pay the postage! Of the 192 returned 171 (89%) were in favour of a one way system and 21 (11%) were against. This is a quite clear result and, in light of that result, your Labour Councillors will be vigorously pursuing the issue with Kent County Council.We know from past experience that achieving the desired outcome will not be easy and even if successful will take considerable time. We ask you, therefore, to be as patient as you can in the knowledge that your elected Labour Councillors will keep you informed of developments.We would like to thank you all for your participation in this consultation exercise and many of you took the opportunity to raise issues, many connected to the roads issue and some not. Your Councillors welcome the fact that you have raised those issues and we are pursuing them with Gravesham Borough Council and Kent County Council as appropriate. Below we set out some of the issues:
Traffic calming with the one-way system. We will feed this in to KCC.
Yellow lines on corners. We will feed in to KCC.
Problems with the Arriva Garage drivers parking. We will ask both Councils to raise the issue with Arriva.
Residents’ Parking. Very little support. Causes as many problems as it solves. What cost? How many permits per household? How many visitors? Just moves the problem to the next road.
State of pavements and pavement parking. Will raise with KCC.
Clean up Rosherville Park and alleyways around Beaumont/St Marks. Already raised with Gravesham Borough Council.
Concerns about effect on Marina Drive. Will include in discussions on any plans.
Suggested parking one side of road only. Will include in discussions on any plans.
We have not included every issue raised but these are the ones raised by most people. We would like to thank you again for participating and we will keep in touch.
