Council accused over cycle route

THE WHITSTABLE Society has demanded the council halt its consultation into a proposed cycle route along Tankerton seafront.

The group lodged an official complaint against the council on Tuesday, accusing it of ignoring its own policies and failing to enforce seasonal cycling restrictions along the promenade.

Society spokesman Graham Cox accused Canterbury City Council of hiding the fact the promenade is included in 2006's Local Plan as an "ancillary route" which should not be used by cyclists during the busy summer period.

He also said the council had listed the benefits of the proposed route in a report but not the disadvantages.

Mr Cox said: "This is the most egregious act by an officer we have seen in 10 years.

"What is the point of the Strategy and Local Plan if officers ignore it and hide it from the public and decision makers?"

Responses to the consultation were included on the Joint Transportation Board's (JTB) agenda halfway through the process, Mr Cox added, meaning the Whitstable Society's comments were not published.

Mr Cox told the council: "You should have advised in the consultation that you would be putting responses on the JTB agenda halfway through the consultation.

"We would have accelerated our response had we known this. It is appalling that you restrict written coverage of all responses to those that came in the first half."

Executive member for transportation, Councillor Peter Vickery-Jones said: "We thank Mr Cox for the comments he has submitted in the consultation.

"Councillors will take these into account alongside all other views as we go through the decision-making process for this project.

"The consultation itself has been widely promoted via local press, the council website, social media and direct correspondence to nearly 100 groups in Whitstable, and the exhibition at the museum has been well visited.

"The JTB report for February makes it clear it covers comments up to the mid-point of the consultation and that any subsequent views – including those of the Whitstable Society – will be reported in full on the night.

"Following the JTB, it will be discussed at the Whitstable Area Member Panel in March and then at the Executive in April, where a decision will be taken."

The JTB meeting is at The Guildhall, Westgate, Canterbury, from 7pm on Tuesday, February 21.