As a bus driver driving through Whitstable from Tankerton circus to tollgate is without doubt the worse town to drive through the main problems causing this congestion are illegally parked cars including so called disabled drivers, delivery drivers and general public driving through in the hope of parking in a loading bay.The view of all bus drivers and comments from passengers is that they make the town a one way system and thereby allowing cars to be parked on one side only troughout with meter machines. Would the powers that be take a look on a typical Saturday between 11am and 3pm and stop ignoring this gridlocked town.

I agree with prdriver1 whole heartedly. It's about time the authorities got of their back sides and tackled this problem once and for all. I used to be a bus driver and had to encounter the same problems many years ago, but today the situation is far worse. If there was a major incident in or around the town centre the emergency service could be hindered by the parking of vehicles by inconsiderate drivers. Part of the problem is the lack of wardens in the High Street. I see more wardens in the car parks and side streets, picking of easy prey rather then moving on drivers in loading bays, who stop to do their shopping! It's about time a one-way system was introduced to Whitstable High Street and Oxford Street. Harbour Street should be pedestrianized and allow traders to set out tables and chairs, also market style traders in the wide part of Harbour Street. Traffic would pass one way through the town from Nelson Road or Cromwell Road junction, heading east to Sea Street and the harbour and return via Cromwell Road. I know the residents of Cromwell Road will object to this idea, stating the increase in traffic will disturb their lives. However I lived in Cromwell Road for six years and the traffic then was just as bad. When the council tried out a one way scheme, the increase volume of traffic was no worse than before, it just travelled one way, which meant there was less chance of accidents. And why are ALL High Street parking restrictions lifted on a Sunday? In the summer months there is total grid-lock when the day visitors arrive in the morning and when they all go home in the late after-noon. A local PC told me, the parishioners from St Alphege want to park near the church. Can they not walk from Middle Wall car park? Support a ONE WAY SCHEME for Whitstable town centre and make our High Street a better place to shop.