Moved bus stop is 'even more dangerous' claim
THE neighbours and users of a Tonbridge Scout hut have slammed Kent County Council for moving a dangerous bus stop to an even worse position.
The location of the stop, near a bend in The Ridgeway, has been causing concern for some time, as stationary buses require other vehicles to blindly pass on the wrong side of the road.
Two weeks ago, Kent Highways removed the old bus stop and put in a new one 3.6 metres further away from the bend.
But this places it perilously close to the entrance to the 2nd Tonbridge Scout hut's forecourt.
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Group Scout leader Ted Jones thought the new location was "damn stupid".
He told the Courier: "They have moved the stop so it is now pretty well obstructing our entrance.
"We have big lorries come to collect waste paper from the bins in the car park and I'm anticipating one of those could very well knock their bus stop over. Anyone waiting for a bus is also liable to get run down.
"As it stands, it is a safety hazard to people using the Scout hut. It seems completely thoughtless."
Delius Drive resident Kathleen Carwardine, who visits the hut every week for an art class, said vehicles coming from the direction of the Royal West Kent Avenue junction now have to swing out dangerously to turn into the car park.
"I can't understand why they have put it here," she said. "I've always thought it was daft to have a stop on the bend, but this is even worse than where it was.
"If it was further along, outside the Penruddocke old people's home, then I could understand. The residents there would be better served and it would be safer for everyone.
"None of it makes sense. It's ridiculous."
The Ridgeway resident John Anscombe shared Mrs Carwardine's opinion on the best position for the stop.
He said: "I saw them replace the bus stop and I thought, 'Why aren't they putting it back where it was? Or, better still, further up outside the old people's home?'
"I can't see why they can't make a bus layby there, because it's council land. They would lose a little bit of their lawn, but it's dangerous where it is."
Mr Jones agreed that the 24-metre long stretch of pavement outside Penruddocke was the best place for the stop as the road there was straight and away from side roads.
No one from Kent County Council was available for comment.
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