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Calls for action at accident blackspot

by Emma Grove

Calls for immediate safety improvements have been made after a woman was taken to hospital following another crash on Keycol Hill.

It happened at the junction with Rook Lane, Bobbing, last Wednesday and involved three cars and a motorbike.

Residents have long been campaigning for safety measures in the area, after a number of accidents.

As well as speed issues, there is a problem with cars parking on the pavement half the way down Keycol Hill and lorries stopping along Sheppey Way, near McDonald's.

Back in March, mum-of-one Claire Mackinnon and 18-year-old Kish Hulm died after a head-on collision on Sheppey Way.

And last month, Ben Newell narrowly escaped injury after a car crashed into his end-of-terrace house in Keycol Hill.

Cllr Duncan Dewar-Whalley (pictured) suggests double yellow lines be installed to deter parking.

Although Bobbing Parish Council clerk Sue Crawford says a consultation about yellow lines raised concerns as to where residents would park, they believe it is still the best option.

Cllr Dewar-Whalley is also concerned for pedestrians who have to walk out into the road to get past parked vehicles.

"It's so dangerous," he added.

"To my mind, it's a very simple thing to resolve.

"Even after the serious accident they [Kent County Council's Kent Highways] didn't do anything but I don't think we shouldn't wait any more - prevention is the cure."

Sue Crawford says the parish council has campaigned to Kent Highways for the speed limit in Sheppey Way to be reduced and suggested a speed indicator to be installed.

She said: "We had been saying we need to sort this before something happened but unfortunately something did happen and two people died.

"We don't want to be known as the parish that has got those shrines on the side of the road because people have been killed there.

"You try to do the best for your parishioners but we are stumped because nobody will meet us."

A spokesman for Kent County Council said: "We must wait for Kent Police to publish their report on this accident before commenting."

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