by Graham Tutthill

gtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

The county council has been accused of putting lives at risk by the "cost-cutting" removal of hundreds of pedestrian safety barriers throughout Dover town centre.

Plans have been revealed to scrap more than 600 barrier sections throughout the town.

A report drawn up by contractors Jacobs, on behalf of Kent Highway Services, follows an assessment of all the barriers around the town.

Project manager Sandra Watkins said there was an increasing emphasis on improving the streetscape by removing "street clutter" and providing better access for pedestrians while maintaining road safety.

"It is recognised that where pedestrian guard railing is badly sited or over installed it not only alienates pedestrians but also looks unsightly, easily becomes damaged which in turn leads to increase maintenance costs and complaints.

"Poor guard railing can lead to an increase in pedestrian crashes."

She said the main purpose of the railing was to prevent people from crossing the road "at an inappropriate place" or from straying onto the road inadvertently.

But Cllr John Goodwin said he was concerned that without the barriers there could be many more accidents.

"These barriers protect pedestrians and dangerous points and direct people to safer crossing points," he said. "They also stop cars parking on junctions.

"To remove these barriers will cost thousands of pounds.The reason to remove them has nothing to do with streetscene, it is about cost of repairing them when they are rusty or damaged. The reason most are damaged is because they are protecting pedestrians when cars hit them.

"Once again the Tory-run KCC is cost cutting. How much is a life worth? This will lead to dozens of accidents involving people versus cars. lots of injuries and maybe deaths. We have seen many incidents in the last few weeks."

Kent Highways say the panels that are removed will be sold for recycling, unless the district council wants to keep any for their own future use.

County Cllr Nigel Collor said he agreed some of the barriers did not serve any purpose but he opposed most of them "mainly on pedestrian safety and directing pedestrians to crossings grounds".

"Such an exercise may well work elsewhere but we have to always consider that these roads are diversion routes when there are problems on the A20 or the A2," he said.