CRAIG MACKINLAY, MP FOR SOUTH THANET

CRAIG MACKINLAY GETS KCC AND STAGECOACH TO CONSIDER IMMEDIATE MEASURES

TO RESTRICT HGVs IN SANDWICH TO PROTECT BUILDINGS AND PEDESTRIANS
AGREEMENT REACHED TO WORK ON A LONGER TERM TRAFFIC PLAN TO SAFEGUARD
HERITAGE AND REGENERATE TOWN CENTRE
On 17 July, Kent County Council (KCC), Dover District Council (DDC), Stagecoach, and Historic England agreed
to work together over the coming months to come up with concrete proposals to end Sandwichs traffic
chaos once and for all.
The breakthrough agreement was successfully brokered by Craig Mackinlay MP who called KCC Head of
Highways, and Stagecoachs South East Managing Director along with 8 other key stakeholders to a meeting
at the Guildhall to discuss Sandwichs Town Teams Green Paper A Traffic Strategy for Sandwich.
Attendees at the meeting unanimously welcomed and supported the Green Paper which was seen as a good
basis on which the experts could now move forward.
The Green Paper represents 12 months of work by the Town Team and sets out package of suggested
initiatives aimed at restricting Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and a smarter use and routing of buses,
protecting the towns heritage and buildings, improving pedestrian safety, in particular the elderly and school
children. One initiative proposes the creation of a Historic Central Zone aimed at regenerating the town
centre, increasing trade, and improving the shopping experience, through a mix of pedestrianisation, shared
pedestrian/traffic areas, and a new one-way system.
Craig Mackinlay said, Sandwich is a historical asset of national importance with an inner road system hardly
changed since the Doomsday Book. Yet for some reason nothing has been done to protect the towns
extraordinary heritage from the 21st centurys ever increasing volumes of traffic and vehicle size. Its
therefore exciting today that KCC and Stagecoach have recognised that something must done and urgently. I
welcome their agreement to get cracking on introducing some immediate temporary measures to restrict
HGVs entering the town centre. But more importantly to work jointly on a more ambitious holistic plan to
protect and regenerate Sandwich over the longer-term, and which perhaps merits Heritage Lottery and EU
funding.

@ cmackinlay

mackinlay4SouthThanet craig.mackinlay.mp@parliament.uk 01843 589266

Promoted by Lynne Conolly on behalf of Craig Mackinlay and STCA, all at 1a The Broadway, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 2AD. Printed by STCA, 1a The Broadway, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 2AD

CRAIG MACKINLAY, MP FOR SOUTH THANET

Using the Town Teams fantastic Green Paper as a starting point, KCC and Stagecoach will now work with
DDC, Historic England, Sandwich Town Council and Town Team, to come up with plans and a design for public
consultation. Ive asked this group to give me a progress report on 16 October in three months time so
we maintain momentum.
Sandwich Mayor, Paul Graeme said Town Councillors are closely involved with the Towns Teams work
which has been admirably collaborative. I thoroughly endorse the general thrust of what the Green Paper
proposes. Doing nothing isnt an option. While recognising some of the proposals will not suit everyone,
lets not be mesmerised, still less paralysed by the difficulties. Instead, lets see how through positive and
objective consultation we can come up with measures that will benefit the whole community for years to
come.
MJ Holloway, Sandwich District and Town Councillor and member of Town Team, said, Craigs meeting today
was the breakthrough Sandwich was looking for getting KCC and Stagecoach to recognise Sandwichs traffic
bedlam, and to agree to do something about it, now gives us a real chance to implement sensible and long
lasting traffic measures that our town and residents deserve.
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information please contact mjohn.holloway@gmail.com, or on 01304 613427/075514 76996.
A copy of the Sandwich Green Paper is attached together with some photos of Craigs Sandwich Traffic
Stakeholders Meeting held on 17 July at the Guildhall Sandwich, and the attendees list.
19 July 2015

@ cmackinlay

mackinlay4SouthThanet craig.mackinlay.mp@parliament.uk 01843 589266

Promoted by Lynne Conolly on behalf of Craig Mackinlay and STCA, all at 1a The Broadway, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 2AD. Printed by STCA, 1a The Broadway, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 2AD