Canterbury Liberal Democrats call for urgent improvements to Canterbury West station approaches

8.44.58am GMT Wed 4th Feb 2009

Lib Dem President Ros Scott met with Lib Dems in Canterbury to discuss the expected problems at Canterbury West Train Station

Canterbury and Whitstable Liberal Democrats are continuing their campaign for urgent improvements to the area around Canterbury West station. With the new high speed rail link service to London St Pancras due to start at the end of this year, local councillors and campaigners have raised the issue with the newly elected Liberal Democrat Party President Baroness Ros Scott, who visited the city recently.

Baroness Ros Scott was greeted by local ward councillor Jo Calvert-Mindell on her arrival at Canterbury West station. Councillor Calvert-Mindell took the opportunity to explain some of the expected problems which have been ignored so far by the planning authorities. "If the new service is a success, it will attract traffic to the area around the station. The problem is the council has done nothing in anticipation, so the increased traffic will simply add to the already congested streets. St Dunstan's, North Lane and St Stephen's Road are already very busy and these roads will only get worse. We are also worried about the potential for increased parking in residential areas close to the station. This is already a problem in areas like Hanover Place, but could get significantly worse as nothing has been done to prepare for the arrival of the new service."

Guy Voizey, parliamentary spokesman for Canterbury and Whitstable Liberal Democrats added, "The new high speed service offers significant potential benefits to residents and businesses in Canterbury and the surrounding area. However, these benefits will only come if people can to and from the station easily. The council and Kent Highways have known the service has been coming for some time, yet they have done nothing to prepare the approaches to the station for increased traffic."