Accessible Walking Routes for Spring Lane, Seabrook

in August 2025 I was contacted by a Seabrook resident who lives in Spring Lane. They have a disabled daughter in a power wheelchair, and had, really quickly, realised that there were no dropped kerbs to allow her to drive down the pavement and safely across the roads running into Spring Lane each side down to Horn Street.

The initial response from KCC to a request asking that dropped kerbs introduced was not immediately positive, but referred the resident to me.

I wasn't happy with that, and continued to push the local East Kent Highways team, alongside Hythe Town Council and the Highways Improvement Plan process. We wanted to see the installation of dropped kerbs which would allow safe footpath access not just for this one child (although important), but all wheelchair and pram / buggy users in the road.  

And yesterday that approach has paid off, with a commitment secured that the Kent Active travel programme can pay for the works, and detailed diagrams of the crossing points to be installed. I've already given my blessing to the works, and Hythe Town Council will also need to do so, after their next Plans and Works meeting. I don't know how long the works will take from there to be programmed, just that they will be!

This commitment is for new safe crossing points for roads off Spring Lane including Woodlands Drive, Highridge, Hampton Vale, Seadown Close, Paraker Way, Eversley Road and Springfield Way.

Many thanks to the Active Travel programme for agreeing to fund these works, and the East Kent Highways Team for helping persuade them of their value.