Tankerton prom cycle plan discussed tonight

Tonight's the night when councillors will debate the proposal to allow cycling along the promenade at Tankerton.

The Joint Transportation Board (made up of city and local county councillors) meets at the Guildhall in Canterbury at 7pm to consider, among other agenda items, the public comments on plans to add 3km to the Oyster Bay Trail cycle path which starts at Reculver and currently ends at Swalecliffe. Instead of having to leave the seafront and cycle along roads through Tankerton, riders would be able to continue  along the prom to Whitstable Harbour. There's also a proposal to then link this path with the Crab and Winkle cycle way which connects Whitstable and Canterbury.

Whatever is concluded tonight will then be reported to the panel of Whitstable councillors (WAMP) and Canterbury's ruling executive group.

The plans were displayed at Whitstable Museum for four weeks until 19th February and people were invited to submit comments for or against, both at the exhibition and online.

Up to 9th February - midway through the process - some 230 questionnaires had been received, with 89% in favour. Updated figures will be reported to the committee tonight.

Whitstable Society has publicly condemned the scheme- see comments at the foot of our previous story.

• Also under discussion tonight is a proposed extension of the 30mph speed limit in Church Lane, with three new speed humps. This is being put forward by Kent County Council, who have been asked by residents to introduce measures to stop speeding and discourage rat-running.