We've been BANNED from driving in our own seaside town because of holidaymakers – it's ridiculous | The Sun
MOTORISTS are outraged after being banned from driving in their seaside town.
A plaza pedestrianisation project, which is expected to cost £250,000, will prohibit traffic along part of the Central Parade in Herne Bay, Kent.
The scheme, called the Kent Active Travel project, includes the introduction of right and left-hand turn bans, one-way roads and prohibition of driving orders.
The planned changes to Central Parade, Dolphin Street, Mortimer Street, Pier Avenue, Richmond Street, Station Road, St Georges Terrace and Telford Street, are set to start in the next few months.
There will also be amendments to the existing double yellow lines on Station Road.
The county council launched a consultation, which closed on October 6 last year, and opinion was split.
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95 of the 183 people who completed the questionnaire either 'disagreed' or 'strongly disagreed' with the plan.
Kent County Council also consulted on a 20mph zone to compliment the active travel proposals.
Many residents argued the scheme was 'not necessary and a waste of money'.
Michael Taylor, who lives on Spenser Road, told KentOnline: "The seafront is where all the people who pour in for the weekend go.
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"There are no tourist facilities elsewhere for tourists, so closing part of the road could turn people off. It feels counter-productive."
However the council believes it will 'boost the local economy and encourage more trips to the town's pier'.
Councillor Dan Watkins (Conservative) said: "The plaza and cycle route adds to the visitor attraction aspect of things – people want a nice environment to shop, eat and drink.
"It will help the streets become cleaner, quieter and ultimately greener, which can only be a good thing.
"These changes will help Herne Bay to become one of the best seaside towns – if not the best seaside town – for walkers and cyclists."
It comes after shoppers were left furious that council chiefs wasted money painting wiggly white lines in a new pedestrianised zone.
It was all part of a £178,000 scheme in Worthing, West Sussex.
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