FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2024
Several new red fluorescent road markings in Herne Bay, England, have reportedly caused a series of complaints from residents who say they are hurting the area.
According to reports, the paint covers nine junctions across the town to warn motorists they are entering a 20-mile-per-hour zone, though those who live nearby are reportedly concerned.
About the Speed Zones
According to The Telegraph, the idea for a new speed zone in the town was first announced in 2021, with the project approved after a public consultation in 2022.
All of the projects were reportedly funded through an Active Travel Government grant to help encourage walking and cycling, with the new zones expected to be completed by the end of this month.
??? Red fluorescent 20mph road markings ‘way too much’, residents say https://t.co/eU0qtge6xx
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 16, 2024
Kent County Council, which is installing the new zones, said nine red entrance patches had been painted across Herne Bay, with white “20” markings set to be added when the weather will allow.
“The markings provide a clear indication to drivers that they are entering the new speed restriction area,” said a spokesman for Kent County Council.
“The color is considered most appropriate to provide a contrast, therefore highlighting the boundary and encourage self-enforcement. The total cost of the entrance boundaries is in the region of £14,000 (about $17,752) and was paid for through government funding provided as part of KCC’s Active Travel scheme bid.”
John Sheering, a retired policeman who lives next to one of the newly painted sections, told The Telegraph that he had seen workmen starting to paint the roads in the middle of the night.
“My dog alerted me, it was like a spaceship had landed. I looked out of the window to see what the commotion was and thought it was just normal roadworks. The road markings are way too much, they look awful too. Surely the simple 20 mph would have sufficed,” he said.
Sue Perry, another resident, called the markings “hideous.” “They are lurid, over the top and spoil the area. We had no warning and it’s just a waste of money,” she said.
James Wightman, owner of Herne Bay Motorcycles, stated that, “The crazy thing is that they even painted over a pothole, perhaps they should tackle them first.”
Dan Watkins, a Herne Bay city and county councilor who played a large part in bringing the new paint scheme to the town, said that the color was “a little garish” and that concerns had been raised with him directly.
“I have been reassured by our highway engineers that it will mellow over time, and that has been the experience in other locations. But perhaps it is good to be bright at the start so it gets the message across and everyone is aware,” he added.
“There were 66 recorded road accidents in the area now covered by the 20 mph zone in the last five years, and that is what we need to reduce.”
Locals have also reportedly raised concerns over how slippery the road markings got in the rain.
Another report from the BBC states that over a dozen of the signs next to the zones have been vandalized and Kent County Police are investigating. Kent Police said the damage to the signs was believed to have been caused last Thursday (Feb. 15) evening.
The new signs and markings appear on roads off Sea Street, Fleetwood Avenue and Station Road in the town of Herne Bay.
Similar News
In November of last year, Residents in Hartford, Michigan, were reportedly upset with the results of a road lining effort, which left one of the town’s roads with curved lane markers.
According to a report from WWMT, Interim City Manager Linnea Rader was planning to meet with the painting contractor to decide on the proper corrective action.
“The street striping that was completed this weekend has been a hot topic around the city. Neither the residents nor the city are happy with the results,” an announcement on the City of Hartford’s Facebook page said.
“In the meantime, rest assured the city will not be paying for work they are dissatisfied with. Thank you all for your patience while we address the situation.”
While many residents were upset over the mistake, some took to Facebook to voice a milder point of view.
“Honestly I'm surprised more roads don't look like that. Given the uneven, bumpy, bad pothole patches and sunken manhole covers on every road ... there isn't a road anywhere that is easy to paint lines straight,” user Scott Perin commented on a Facebook post from WWMT on the incident.
Still, many users found humor in the situation, as commenter Jim Rydleski stated: “It looks like the painter was just avoiding all the cracks in the road.”
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