The crossing, which is now the principal access to Dartford Station and the Civic Centre, following the demolition last month of the pedestrian footbridge over Home Gardens, has been branded as ‘unsafe’ by Dr Stoate.

The MP has received a stream of complaints from elderly and disabled residents as well as parents with pushchairs about the crossing in the last few weeks since the bridge was pulled down to allow the start of work on the Fastrack project in Home Gardens.

“The elderly and disabled people that I’ve spoken to say that they find it difficult to get across the crossing in time before the lights go green again. They are also unhappy about the level of visability at the crossing, especially during the rush hour when cars and lorries are often bumper to bumper along Hythe Street,” said Dr Stoate.

“In my view the crossing is unsafe and it’s only a matter of time before there is a serious accident on the crossing. I can well understand why so many people are unhappy about the using the crossing and why a number of elderly and disabled people are choosing to stay away altogether.”
“Unfortunately it is yet another example of how the team behind the Fastrack project has failed to think through the impact of construction work on ordinary Dartford residents. The demolition of the pedestrian footbridge was bound to inconvenience residents, yet nothing has been done to provide a suitable alternative crossing.”

Dr Stoate has now written to Kent Highways to ask them to take urgent action to improve the crossing – particularly the phasing of the lights.