The date for a controversial plaza to be cleared from a town’s seafront has been announced.
A Kent County Council-led project has seen part of Herne Bay’s Central Parade converted into a pedestrianised zone - but officials have now confirmed the road will be reopened to traffic on June 28.
The ‘active travel scheme’ also came with a complex one-way system in the surrounding area and new cycle routes through the town.
But as the new traffic rules came into force, public outcry ensued. A town hall meeting was called to hear residents’ views - and a working group set up to review the project resolved to return Central Parade to its previous state while maintaining the new 20mph one-way system.
But locals say the u-turn does not go far enough and have called on councillors to reset the roads completely to how they were before.
Events organiser and resident Gerald McCarthy said: “We’re really pleased it’s reopening, but why will the one-way system - that was only implemented because part of Central Parade was going to be closed - still remain in place, even after the road has been reopened?
“It’s a big victory for the town. The community came together and made their voice heard, and admittedly it’s good that the councillors have listened to some degree.
“But the next step will be to convince councillors to retune the adjacent roads to how they were before.”
County councillor Dan Watkins, who represents Herne Bay East, says the arrangement reached by the working group is a “fair compromise” and that even with the plaza gone, many of the local authority's goals regarding the scheme may still be realised.
“I think the whole thing with the plaza active travel scheme generated a diverse set of opinions - some people who wanted it, other people who didn't and some people who didn't really care either way,” said the Conservative.
“But I think what the working group has come up with is a fair compromise. It will still achieve some of the perks we were hoping to achieve - to make Herne Bay quieter, safer and greener.
“But it's not going to prevent people from driving along the whole of the seafront.”
Dean Tevfik, who owns Waves Ice Cream Parlour and Dean's Plaice fish and chip shop in Central Parade, believes the whole plaza scheme should never have been started.
“I think they should scrap the whole [scheme] - all it does is build up traffic,” the 42-year-old said.
“It’s so hard to get around Herne Bay now - they’ve made it so difficult. Especially as tourist season approaches, trying to get around during peak hours is going to be unreal.”
Cllr Watkins says the plaza scheme will remain under review.
“With the decision that’s been made, it also allows us to still use the plaza for community events a few times a year,” he added.
“Looking forward with that in mind, hopefully it will be a really successful summer.
“If community groups want to come forward and run events at the plaza then we encourage them to get in touch.”
