Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
Wait until the school holidays start and the rush for the ferries and tunnel starts. I will make a prediction now, that on the Friday evening and Saturday, there will be the most horrendous traffic jam between Folkestone and Dover. You have been warned! So come on, "the authorities" (Highways Agency, Police, ferry companies, DHB and Eurotunnel), let's hear what contingency plans you have to deal with the inevitable chaos? My advice to locals is to avoid the M20 at all costs that weekend. Let's see if I am right!
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
My wife just came home from Folkestone by one of the back routes as the queues Dover bound were so bad on her way there - lots of oldies in plastic macs with flasks of tea doing traffic surveys by the tunnel, presumably to provide statistics to show the coming chaos was due to abnormal traffic flows and not lack of planning.
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
Trouble is, Ray, as this situation continues so the back routes will become congested too. As you say, a complete lack of planning. As far as infrastructure is concerned, the UK is increasingly looking like a third world country, incapable of forward planning, building anything to last, and allowing "public opinion" to sway key decisions on future development.
Vic is so wrong! There may be 3 ways into Dover but all 3 were bloody stuffed up when I was coming home today. I ended up coming home via Sandgate because the traffic was backed up way back past J12 and the Cheriton roundabout was queueing to get off. The Tesco road was stuffed too, and combined with the buses it was a sodding nightmare.
What a good advertisement for Dover. That and the wrecked buildings, the market square looking like a squatters paradise and the empty shops looking as if they have been burgled. Nice one DDC et al.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
That's the trouble Bern, no one in authority, whether DTC,DDC, DHB or the local Chambers of Commerce either care about the Town or know what to do about it.
I have been trying for a very long time to work on this, from 2005 with the Dover Loyalty Scheme and through to 2009, 2010 and even 2011; every one seems to have a different agenda and it certainly doesn't involve supporting or helping the Town Centre or the businesses.
The millions to be spent on DTIZ, the Landbridge, cable car etc. won't make the current Town Centre look any better unless there is someone to work on it.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
roger
they are only artists impressions, much like the holiday brochures of the 70's.
remember when tourists arrived at a half finished hotel?
if basic things like keeping streets, alleys and a small river clean, a fountain kept open and litter bins provided, what hope is there of major things coming to fruition?
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
The DTIZ will Howard - sooner than many people think - many other of the big regeneration projects will come to fruition too, my concern is for the current Town Centre and businesses - it won't happen by itself.
Roger
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
BERN, What you do is come off the old A20 at the top of Folkestone hill go along the lane till you come down on to the Folkestone Canterbury Rd cross over then keep going it will take you right over the top of Folkestone when you come out at the other end just turn left it will bring you to the right side if you are going to London then going back to Dover go the same way back again.
Going is A20 to the top of the old Folkestone hill cross over and go along Crete Road East ,at the end cross over the a A260 keep on the small crete road west,then down Castle hill you will come out at Junction 13 of the M20 and do the same coming home. but coming back you can go down the Alkham Valley rd or back over the top to the old A20.just to add to this when we go this way we see about 3or4 cars.
I KNOW!!!! It was all stuffed to the gills with hardly-moving traffic on my way home. But thanks anyway!
Roger et al - it couldn't be clearer that there is a real lack of any joined up thinking or partnership working. It sucks a biggie. We have been so patient, but seriously chaps, enough is enough!!
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
They are all to pot as Bern said - I took the Crete Road West route yesterday and was chaos with someone with the inability to reverse !!
Yesterday morning the queues going London-bound were beyond the Alkham Valley bridge and that wasn't even rush hour.
It is all not helped by them putting a ramp and speed cameras in
More people are now taking the alternative route so I will be going Canterbury route from now on....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
As per my earlier post, wait for the chaos that will ensue on Friday 22 July and Saturday 23 July when the schools break up. Tune into BBC Radio Kent to hear all about it as thousands of holidaymakers sit stranded on the M20/A20!