A2 bypass closure and repercussions
- 31 October 2012 12:26198697I've just been to a meeting at DDC offices about planned overnight closures and other associated restrictions on the A2 bypass from the Shepherdswell traffic lights to Whitfield between 10th December and 31st March (nothing to do with DDC, they just hosted the meeting which was being held jointly by the contractors and Highways Agency).
At the end of this work, there will be new lighting around the traffic lights at the Shepherdswell and Lydden junctions, new lights around the Whitfield roundabout end, but lighting removed completely on the rest (which we were told statistically results in a 12.5% increase in accidents on a single carriageway national speed limit road)
The laybys will be closed during the works and have their lighting removed, which the cynics among us suspected was a precursor to removing the laybys permanently but wondered where the trucks are going to go then.
The old lighting which is unsafe and too far below modern standards for the rest of the road will be kept at the Coldred junction, again the cynics among us suspecting this being a precursor to closing the crossover at this junction completely so it will not need lighting.
Lots of other issues came up but this was supposed to be a consultation when in fact it was just telling us what is already planned (and being planned badly at that).
Just wondering if anyone had heard about it yet? - 31 October 2012 16:26198713Sounds like the usual KCC 'consultation' process in operation once again.
I've just checked the dictionary and, sure enough, the word 'consultation' reads ..."the due process given by public bodies when nonsensical decisions are given legitimacy by asking half a dozen alcoholics a series of questions they don't understand or care about, and presenting the results as a genuine vox pop that cost millions to stage."
Silly me.
I thought it involved asking those concerned. In this case, one would have thought that Whitfield Parish Council would have been invited to offer their two penneth. They haven't. 
True friends stab you in the front. - 31 October 2012 16:43198716Andy, it was nothing to do with KCC, they were there and gave the Highways Agency quite a going over on lack of detail.
Whitfield were one of 9 parish councils invited along with DDC, DTC and Canterbury.
Only Lydden and DTC sent reps, and Nigel Collor was there with more hats on than Sue Nicholas has in her collection
None of the 20 or so businesses and organisations likely to be affected sent a rep. but it was pointed out to the Highways Agency organisers that this was likely due to the relatively short notice and 10am start for the meeting.
It's very disconcerting that the Highways Agency can propose changes that are from their own statistics likely to increase the rate of accidents, you would have thought their aim would be to bring them down. - 1 November 2012 05:39198801When I get notice of road-closures - day or night-time, I put them on here if they are major ones: I didn't receive any such notice of this one and I am on the Joint Transportation Advisory Board where we are usually advised of impending works.
Did Nigel give/have, a view Ray ?
Roger - 1 November 2012 07:34198813Roger, the fact you are on that board and haven't received any notification yet for such a major project (nearly 4 months duration) tells you what a shambles it is!
I wouldn't want to speak directly for Nigel and I'm sure you can ask him directly, but along with KCC reps we both gave very critical assessments of what was planned and the people from Highways Agency and Balfour Beatty went away looking a bit worse for wear. - 12 December 2012 10:44205488Nigel Collor (mainly) and myself have just been interviewed in a cold and noisy layby by Radio Kent about the short term and long term problems this work will cause - should go out today or tomorrow morning if anyone listens.
Work is now due to start on 7th January. - 13 December 2012 10:58205602Closing of lay bys is becoming a trend - do you remember those on Jubilee Way itself? IF there is a need to stop lorries parking there why not reduce the entrance size to restrict access to cars. A place to stop and rest is a sensible provision and should be seen as an asset rather than a nuisance.
- 20 January 2013 11:07211035does anyone have any update on the situation i heard that there was a meeting recently with parish councillors whose localities were affected and the highways agency.
- 20 January 2013 11:26211038As someone who has been to every country in Europe in the past year, I feel qualified to compare the facilities offered to truck drivers by those countries. I can say without fear of contradiction that the UK is by far the worst and is a constant source of anger by all drivers. Drivers must have somewhere to park so as not to exceed their statutary hours and if they can't find a lay-by or parking area they will park anywhere they consider it safe to do so which could be any residential road. A residential road once used will soon become common knowledge.
A fine imposed for excessive driving hours can also mean loss of an HGV licence so drivers need to find somewhere to park as I know only to well and that is why I rarely work in the UK. - 20 January 2013 11:38211040Ken as you would expect i fully agree with all the points you have made,however it is a waste of time telling people this. I wonder how many people know the number of lorries it takes to supply the food we all eat daily.beer the food of the gods
- 20 January 2013 11:49211041Yes I was there with others from parish councils about 35 all told.There is alot going on but to cut it short,they are to stay closed for 18 months till the work is all done on the lighting,I had my say along with others what it boils down to is funding etc,If they are to stay open they must be alot bigger under EU rules The K.CC. want them to stay closed for ever and then after the 18months replace them,so to make them look like they was not there in the first place,in other words fill them them and return them again into the edge of the road etc,we all said they must stay open so the lorrys can park up if they run out of driving time etc.That is the outline only of along meeting.There will more meetings in afew weeks time,but my view is the KCC,will win the day and they will not open again,but it is also about the lights in places they do not want them to stay on anymore.
- 20 January 2013 15:46211071there seems to be a lot of disquiet by people who are concerned about the safety aspects, a form can be downloaded here to express them.
http://www.lyddenparish.org.uk/ - 20 January 2013 16:38211079I won't/can't disagree with Ken or Tom, but who should pay for these facilities ?
A lot of the tolls on the European roads pay for the truck-driver facilities, we don't have such a system, so perhaps when we do introduce road tolls, we can afford these much-needed services and facilities.
Roger - 20 January 2013 20:30211120Rog, we seem to spend a fortune in road tax, both direct and indirect through fuel taxation. The fact is that we already pay for these facilities, but whilst the amount we fork out each year, the facilities offered to the hapless motorist continue to diminish and the quality of the road surface gets worse and worse.
What exactly are the road fund licence and the other taxes we pay for exactly, if not to offer drivers a place to pull over or for the roads not to become undriveable? It seems to me that road safety is being compromised both in terms of not offering HGV drivers a rest stop and the wear & tear caused by dangerous pot holes. When this latest round of snow and ice is cleared, I dread to think what state the roads will be in...........True friends stab you in the front. - 20 January 2013 21:45211124From Roger we get the usual bleating about cost, to follow Andy's comment what about using some the road tax that lorries pay which can be 3 to 4 grand a year per truck. Or even use some of the money from the draconian fines they take off hgv drivers for going over the hours. Frankly they need to remove the head from the backside to deal with the problem because it is going to get worse.
beer the food of the gods - 21 January 2013 08:16211141I'm not bleating Tom, but these facilities have to be paid for and I was asking where that money will come from.
I have no input as to where the Government spend your and my tax money, but I do know that the money raised from motorists doesn't just get spent on providing better roads - if it did, we'd have the best in the world; in fact, I'm sure that it is only a tiny fraction of what is taken off of us.
I agree that many drivers are put in an impossible situation when they know they cannot drive more than a certain amount of hours and miles, but then they find there's nowhere to park up.
Roger - 21 January 2013 08:30211144Unfortunately there is very little connection between the purposes for which we pay tax and the purposes for which that money is used. From each taxpayer according to his ability to pay (or avoid) tax; to each department of State according to its need. Business Rates are the worst example of this. Not only do businesses get back not a single penny piece in value for the money they pay, they get more and more red tape heaped upon them every year.
http://www.iam-bristol.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=538&Itemid=1I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson - 22 January 2013 16:57211541I agree totally Peter.
Sorry this is a long posting, but hopefully it may be of use/interest.
I received this yesterday evening about the A2 layby closures:
Proposed A2 Trunk Road Lay-by Closures
The Highways Agency (H.A.) is proposing to permanently close off the 6 lay-bys along the section of the A2 between the Whitfield roundabout and the Shepherdswell traffic lights. This has set off a few alarm bells with DDC, KCC Highways and the local Parishes who are all concerned about where displaced lorries, that routinely park in these lay-bys, will end up parking? The fear is that they will end up trawling the nearby villages, estates and road network trying to find places to park.
In order to demonstrate a case to keep the lay-bys open, the Highways Agency have invited us to provide reports of increased lorry movements and/or parking that have been noticed since 7th January 2013 when the lay-bays were first closed. Whilst we have some staff that can survey some of the roads some of the time, we can't cover them all and so are asking for your help. If any of you notice any increased lorry activities along roads that you frequently use or live along, and have concerns about this, could you please supply this information to me? I will then collate the gathered data and forward it onto the the H.A.
For those of you that are able to help, I have supplied an electronic form which can be used to report your findings. It only requires 5 boxes to be filled and whilst it's not essential for you to supply your name and email contact details, it would be useful if you could. You can use the form as many times as you like to make and submit reports. The most likely report will concern the noticed increase of over-night parked lorries, but it needn't just be restricted to this. Any knock-on effect of the lay-by closures will be useful. For example, one of the local farmers has already reported that he pulls into these lay-bys when he drives combine harvesters along the A2, so that he can allow queuing traffic behind him, to pass. Obviously, we can expected longer delays come Autumn time if the lay-bys are permanently closed.
Thank you for taking the time to read this email and for those of you who choose to submit reports.
Regards to all.
This is the part you can fill in.
A2 Lydden Lay-Bys Temporary Closure
Monitoring Sheet for use by local residents, business and Parish Councils
As you may be aware, the Highways Agency will be closing 6 lay-bys in the Lydden area for a temporary period of up to 18 months, starting early 2013. The closures are required not only to carry out necessary up-grade works to street lighting in the area, but also in view of the dangers to road safety posed by their location and configuration compared to modern standards and designs, and the way in which they are currently being used.
During the period of temporary closure the Highways Agency, in conjunction with others such as Kent County Council, Dover District Council, Kent Police and the Port of Dover, will be monitoring the impacts and also considering what provision needs to be made for lay-bys in the future. Any proposals regarding future provision will be the subject of consultation as appropriate.
We are aware of the concerns expressed by nearby residents and businesses about the impact that the temporary closures may have locally.
In order to assist the Highways Agency with the monitoring of the impact of the temporary closure, we would welcome the input of those living and working in the local area.
In order to provide us with consistent, easily analysable evidence, it would greatly assist us if you could complete as far as is possible and relevant the table overleaf.
Please feel free to add sheets if there is insufficient room. Also please feel free to forward any maps/ photos that would assist in our understanding of what you are reporting.
In completing this sheet, please do not place yourself or others at risk.
Completed sheets, or any queries, should be forwarded to:
Kevin Bown, Asset Manager (Kent), Wing 1B, Highways Agency, Federated House, London Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1SZ
or to
Kevin.Bown@highways.gsi.gov.uk
Thank you for your assistance.
A2 Lydden Lay-Bys Temporary Closure
Monitoring Sheet for use by local residents, business and Parish Councils
When
Dates/ Times when parking occurs
What
eg registration number/ name of company/ type of vehicle
Where
Address/ location of parking
Impact: Road Safety
eg blocked access to property/ blocked sightlines etc
Impact:
Other
eg any anti-social or criminal behaviour etc
If you are content to do so, please provide the following contact information:
Your name ...............................................
How we might contact you if we need to eg your email address or telephone number:
...............................................................................................................
If you would to give any input, please do so.
Roger - 22 January 2013 18:04211548As I told them the highways are not asking the right questions and that is why they have wrote them the way they have,so they do not get anything that they do not what to hear.I also told them at the meeting there was no need for this montoring sheet,because all the parish cllrs were there and we was there to talk for our parish,all this was done for to slow it all up. and then turn round and say that you all had a imput what is going to be done. Again the questions was the wrong ones,do not be taken in by them,but put what you realy think about it all.
- 24 January 2013 12:06211781I have now email to Chris the review notes of the meeting held at the D.D.C. OFFICE held on 14.1.13 on who was there and who said what etc,he might post parts of them so you can see what was said and where we go from here.