New Loading Bays Proposed for Sandgate High Street

A proposal for parking in Sandgate High Street which local Councillor Tim Prater has been arguing for for some time is going to the Folkestone & Hythe District Council / Kent County Council "Joint Transportation Board" on Monday 11th September.

Tim says:

"With many more businesses at the "Hythe" end of Sandgate High Street now doing hospitality and delivery / collection, there are often many vehicles into the evening doing deliveries and collections from those businesses. There is however just one loading bay, and that is only in operation until 6pm. This leads to delivery drivers parking in the evenings "all wheels on" the nearly pavements, on double yellow lines, and even on the zigzags of the nearby zebra crossing. These are all anti-social, and some illegal even for "loading", but there are currently few alternatives.

"The proposal being taken forward on Monday would see the one existing loading bay extended to three, from outside 88-90 Sandgate High Street. Those bays would be for loading only (30 mins max stop) and until 10pm at night.

"That does slightly reduce parking options for residents and businesses down that end of the High Street (interest declared: I'm one of them!). However, it should also mean that at the least, during the day those residents and businesses could at least get a space to stop and drop off to / pick-up from their homes and businesses. Parking around the corner from your home is one thing. Carrying the weekly shop back to your home from round the corner is something else.

"Equally, it should mean that there is much better space availability for those picking up deliveries from those local businesses offering evening delivery / collection without parking in a place that creates an obstruction / hazard, which I know from the number of people who mention it to me would be really welcomed. I would also expect the District Parking Enforcement Team to ensure that those bays were being used as designed, for all hours of operation.

"Hope that sounds like a useful development: all the people I've discussed it with informally over a couple of years have (mainly!) agreed it is worth trying, and supports both local businesses, and local residents.

"Any thoughts before that meeting on this subject: message me or email tim@prater.uk"

The Agenda and Papers for the 11th September JTB meeting can be found on the Folkestone and Hythe District Council website [agenda item 11 - additional item]