Rogue drivers use route as no entry signs are 2ft too close to kerb

Frustrated residents say they have almost come to blows as motorists continue to use a bus-only lane - because the no entry signs are said to be in the wrong place.

A row over the position of four signs in a bus-only lane in Allington, Kent, continues to delay the installation of cameras to catch the drivers who misuse it.

The signage is reportedly 40cm too close to the kerb.

In the meantime, locals have found themselves embroiled in spats with drivers abusing the route.

Last Friday, George Powell, 73, found another driver waiting for him when he left his house to take his wife to work.

Mr Powell, who has lived there for 13 years, said: 'He beckoned at me and when I wound the car window down, he leaned on the car in a threatening manner and began swearing at me.'

Two days earlier, Mr Powell had told the man that he shouldn't be driving through the 'busgate' which connects the new Hermitage Park estate with the older properties in Allington.

The pensioner added: 'He was very intimidating. And he told me to mind my own f****** business.

'My wife was in the car and she told me not to respond, but just drive on.'

When developers Croudace created the route they insisted it should be for buses and pedestrians only, so it did not create a rat-run for traffic between Hermitage Lane and the A20 London Road.

As a result a 'busgate' with a 'sumpbuster' was installed - a raised concrete platform intended to smash the sump of any cars that ignored the 'no entry' sign.

But locals say this has proved completely ineffective.

Cllr Chris Passmore (Lib Dem), who represents Maidstone Central on Kent County Council (KCC), said: 'The theory was that the buses with high suspension would pass safely over the top, and cars lower to the ground would be caught.

'But since then, buses have got lower, as they have been designed for easier access, and cars have got higher.'

After a public consultation, KCC took the decision last April to use newly-granted powers to enforce moving traffic offences and to install ANPR cameras at the busgate.

As of this week, there is no sign of the cameras.

KCC has yet to officiall'adopt the road from Croudace, and says it can't do so until the busgate had been protected with four illuminated no entry signs.

Croudace duly put them in, but then KCC declared the signs were 40cm too close to the kerb.

It wants Croudace to move the signs before it adopts the route. Croudace feels it has done what was asked of it.

It is now without cameras and is being more and more frequently abused.

Cllr Rachel Rodwell (Green) is the ward borough councillor for the area. She said: 'People are finding the situation quite threatening.

'There is a lot of frustration. Cars are coming through the busgate quite quickly and surprising pedestrians who are not expecting it.

'People do not expect to feel threatened in their own neighbourhood.

'It's causing conflict and altercations and getting worse as more people seek to find a way through past the hold-ups on Hermitage Lane.

'It's upsetting that there has been such a delay in getting the cameras, as residents have been pinning their hopes on this.'

Cllr Passmore said: 'Of course, there will be a cost to installing cameras - which we will all share the burden of paying.

'No doubt when they do go in, they will solve the problem, but they shouldn't be necessary. People who drive through the 'no entry' are already breaking the law and they shouldn't be.'

In a public consultation conducted by KCC at the start of the year, 98 were in favour of cameras and 36 were opposed.

In the meantime, Nu Venture, the local bus company, continues to manually unlock a physical gate each morning at around 7:30 a.m. and lock it again in the evening to prevent nighttime and weekend misuse. 

Norman Kemp, who owns the Nu Venture bus company, said: 'Our drivers have not reported any abuse.

'We took on the gate locking and unlocking as a favour to the residents and developers, rather than as an obligation.

'We would soon have relinquished the task, if it had been troublesome. But roll on the much-delayed ANPR cameras!'

Croudace was contacted for comment, but did not respond.

KCC denied there was a dispute over the signs locations.

A spokesman said: 'We are working with the developer to get the ANPR cameras installed, some of the signing/posts need upgrading to allow for the new camera enforcement signage to be erected and powered.'