The A257 Traffic Group was formed in 2010 to combine local knowledge and experience to address traffic matters affecting residents along the length of the A257 from Warwick Road in Canterbury up to and including Ash Village. This includes some associated roads and villages directly affected by the A257 between these points.

CORE GROUP Members are representatives of the following Parish Councils and Associations (in alphabetical order):-
Adisham Parish Council
Ash Parish Council
Bekesbourne with Patrixbourne Parish Council
Ickham & Well Parish Council (Bramling)
Littlebourne Parish Council
• Littlebourne & Stodmarsh Roads Community Association (LSRCA)
Preston Parish Council
Staple Parish Council (Shatterling)
Wickhambreaux Parish Council
Wingham Parish Council

FULL GROUP In addition to Core Group members, the Full Group members include:-
• District Councillor for Little Stour & Adisham Ward, Canterbury, currently Cllr Lee Castle
• District Councillor for Little Stour & Ashstone Ward, Dover, currently Cllr Martin Porter
• Kent County Councillor for Canterbury City South, currently Cllr Mel Dawkins
• Kent County Councillor for Canterbury South, currently Cllr Mike Sole
• Kent County Councillor for Sandwich, currently Cllr Sue Chandler
• MP for Canterbury/Whitstable, currently Rosie Duffield
• MP for South Thanet, currently Craig Mackinlay

MEETINGS are held every other month in January, March, May, July, September and November with Full Group Members attending every other meeting in January, May and September only. These are not public meetings. Other Councillors and/or interested parties are invited to attend according to the agenda.

A257 PLAN
The Group produced and launched the ‘A257 Plan’ in 2018 which documents issues surrounding congestion, accidents and pedestrians, providing fact-based information and proposals for improvements on the road to make it safer for all users.

LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION
MEETING UPDATE: Saturday 20 January 2024 FULL GROUP MEETING
Unfortunately neither our MPs nor our County Councillors were available to join the meeting this time, however Cllr Dawkins (KCC Member for Canterbury City South) sent a written report for members covering an update on the CCC Local Plan, Longport, Potholes and live KCC public consultations. Two District Councillors attended but had no relevant traffic-related updates.
Shatterling was discussed and a summary of the Group's meeting with KCC Highways Cabinet Member Cllr Neil Baker and County Cllr Sue Chandler in December 2023 was provided.  Cllr Baker agreed to follow up several issues with KCC officers and report back in the New Year. 
Updates from Group and Village representatives were received from Ash, Bramling, Littlebourne, LSRCA, Shatterling, Wickhambreaux and Wingham.  Ash have approached Cllr Neil Baker about the Ash bypass and confirmed that PC Bowler will be monitoring speeds. They summarised actions being taken with their Highways Improvement Plan (HIP). Bramling noted projects in the Ickham & Well PC HIP and a meeting with residents about how to use the KCC Highways reporting tool.  They are in discussions with KCC about gateways and road signs. Two sites to carry out Speedwatch have been approved.  Littlebourne noted their meeting with KCC to discuss their HIP where some 20mph limits were agreed for side roads but not on the A257. KCC will not currently allow them to erect yellow-backed speed signs at their gateways. A date for the CCC Planning Committee to discuss the proposed Gladman Development on The Hill is not yet known, but it was noted the Environment Agency maintain their objection based on surface water and sewage issues.  LSRCA noted support from a new resident in the village on planning matters and updated the Group regarding a planning application on Swanton Lane, just off the A257. Shatterling noted thanks to the Group and to Staple PC for their continued support of Shatterling. The number of visitors to the Wildlife Park and their expansion along Rusham Road was also noted.  Wickhambreaux noted the many recent road closures and uninformative and confusing closure signs. It was agreed the Group would write to KCC and service companies. Though not yet open to the public, pre-consultation discussion is beginning on  the replacement of the Grove Ferry Bridge.   Wingham noted current issues with the placement of their Speed Indicator Devices in the village which is being discussed with KCC Highways.
Other items discussed included: Advice to keep on reporting speeding issues to the Police and to keep requestiong enforcement; Notification that DDC have deferred a decision on the introduction of charges for rural car parks pending a Strategic Review; and the proposed solar farm application in Ash which, if granted permission, will see increased traffic movements on the A257.
Next Meeting Date: Saturday 16 March for Core Group Members only.

KCC'S VISION ZERO ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY Please visit the KCC VISION ZERO page to find out more.  An excerpt from the KCC page reads as follows:- There are on average just over 45 deaths on Kent’s roads each year. Kent County Council (KCC) is setting the target of zero, or as close as possible, fatalities and life changing injuries by 2050 with a 50% reduction by 2030 and a target of no more than 39 traffic fatalities by 2026. Vision Zero is not just about focussing on the date we achieve zero, but the recognition that deaths on the road are not an acceptable price to pay for mobility.  We will follow the Safe System Approach which understands that people make mistakes and aims to ensure these mistakes do not cause a death or a life-changing injury.

CONTACT THE A257 TRAFFIC GROUP
The Group Administrator is Kerry Coltham, the Wingham Parish Council Clerk. Please use the CONTACT PAGE for your enquiry
Skip to content