Development issues continue to be a major activity in Barton. There is an application for a hotel at the Blockbuster site, many proposed house extensions in the ward and proposals to sell almost a third of Longport car park for housing. I have written to all members of the council's Executive to alert them to the fact that this car park serves many organisations and has a community function. It is used by solicitors visiting the prison, market stall holders, visitors to the colleges, schools and university, tourists visiting the World Heritage Site and attendees at four local churches. The so called need to build 2000 homes in south Canterbury is also still a continuous threat to our surrounding arable fields, although no decisions have yet been made.
There has been some success with getting new signs along the bridle route /Pilgrim's Way /cycle path /Public Right of Way that traverses Barton Farmland. For some years there have been motorists illegally using this route as a short cut, although this safety issue only came to my attention this summer. It has been a test of wills to get Kent County Council to act, but tenacity and perseverance are two of my better virtues! The new signs are having some effect and I have been in contact with businesses there to ensure they divert their business traffic via Appledown Way, rather than the lane leading to Pilgrim's Way. Next year I hope to arrange the police to do spot checks on motorists using the Lane.
Earlier this year I requested that Barton Road was put on the "salting/gritting route" by KCC Highways, as it appears that the gritting lorries were salting Mount Road rather than the bus route along Barton Road. Consequently, Barton Road is now on all KCC maps as part of the secondary salting routes. In addition I requested that the Gap is included for gritting, as many hospital staff park there. This will now be included for gritting in the Winter programme, i.e. when there is snow. Let's hope we don't have to use these services too much over the coming months!!
As of this month we now have an injection of youth in the ward, with some new Focus Team Members, studying at the nearby university. Wonderful news, and we couldn't have had a better Christmas present!
