Motormouth TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson
has blasted Ashford’s controversial town centre shared space traffic scheme.
The Top Gear presenter joined those mocking the innovative strategy, claiming it was “piffle” and only a matter of time before someone is killed.
He then branded those behind the scheme as “idiots”.
Now Kent County Council leader Paul Carter says he would be only too happy to meet up with the TV star to explain the scheme to him personally.
Controversial Clarkson – who in recent weeks prompted complaints for suggesting lorry drivers murdered prostitutes – made the comments in his latest column in The Sun newspaper on Saturday.
In it, he poured scorn on the shared space scheme which, drawing on similar schemes in Europe and London, does away with obvious divides between paths and road, calming
traffic and giving pedestrians more freedom to move around the town centre.
Clarkson said: “They’ve deliberately made the ring road narrower to create this shared space.
A place where cars and pedestrians all get on in perfect harmony.
“Yes, in the same way that the keepers at London Zoo could put all the animals in the same cage and sit back hoping that the Baby Jesus will stop the lions from eating the goats.
“Someone is going to be killed, you idiots. Either because they walked into the road, not knowing it was road, or because a motorist drove down the pavement not knowing it was pavement.”
Now KCC leader Paul Carter – a self-confessed petrol head who last year took part in the Peking to Paris rally – says he wants to sit down and explain the concept.
Although Mr Carter stopped short of inviting Mr Clarkson to Ashford to see the scheme for himself, he told Yourashford: “I’d like to talk to Jeremy and explain it to him.
"I was at the ground-breaking last year and I have since been back to have a look at its progress.
“I thought it looked absolutely fantastic. It's just what Ashford needs. It's very modern and contemporary, and very well designed.
"This is the first stage. We have got to build other highway schemes when we get the funding from the Government or developer contributions.
"It's a completely different experience. It's a shared space where people change their behaviours - both motorists and pedestrians.
"The professionals say it does make drivers and pedestrians more cautious and has worked in other countries."
The project hit national headlines earlier this month after KCC forked out £15,000 on a DVD instructing locals how to safely cross the road and drive. Tips included telling pedestrians to engage motorists in eye contact before stepping out.
Mr Clarkson added: “Why can’t councils try this for an idea instead?
“Make the road as straight and as fast as possible so people can get to work quickly and keep the wheels of industry turning.
“And then build foot bridges and railings to keep the cars away from those who choose to walk. Call me a mad old buffoon. But I think such a scheme might actually work.”
• WHAT do you think? Do you agree with Jeremy Clarkson – or believe this is a brave step to a safer town centre? Email: yourashford@kosmedia.co.uk or write to The Editor, Yourashford, KOS Media, Apple Barn, Hythe Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent TN25 6SR.
POSTED: 26/11/2008 08:00:00
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