Work on the Folkestone – A Brighter Future project is progressing with a quarter of the ambitious programme now complete.
Folkestone – A Brighter Future will provide a huge boost to the regeneration of Folkestone town centre once finished. The current stage of the project involves major road redesign and partners, including contractors Jacksons Civil Engineering, Kent County Council and the district council, will continue to work together to streamline the traffic management to minimise disruption. For example, at Radnor Park roundabout the four-way traffic-controlled lights can now be manually operated during the day to alleviate traffic pressure and a specialist Kent County Council officer visits regularly to check the system is working appropriately and recommends changes as necessary.
Details of all the traffic management plans for the current phase, Radnor Park roundabout and Shellons Street and Forrester Way, can be found on Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s website at folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/fabf-phase-two
As part of the project the Folkestone bus station will move to a linear layout and Bouverie Square will return to its former use as a garden square.
The two bus stops outside the bus station will be moved temporarily from Tuesday 2 September. National Express services will relocate to the bus stop outside of the back of Sainsbury's on Bouverie Road West.
The rest of Folkestone bus station will close on Saturday 20 September. Stagecoach services currently operating from the bus station will run from temporary stops erected along Middelburg Square.
Details of routes and which temporary bus stops will serve the various routes will be available from Friday 15 August. Stagecoach have confirmed that these details cannot be shared earlier due to the process of submission to the traffic commissioner and the dynamic nature of route planning. Stagecoach is developing a graphic with details of all temporary stops that will be shared after this date, along with a dedicated promotional webpage and posters to help inform and guide customers throughout the transition.
Cllr Jim Martin, Leader of Folkestone & Hythe District Council, said: “Folkestone town centre will be transformed by this ambitious project. My thanks to both residents and businesses for their patience whilst our partners carry out these important works.’
Joel Mitchell, Managing Director of Stagecoach South East, said: “We’re pleased to support Folkestone & Hythe District Council’s regeneration plans by relocating our services in line with the new layout. The linear design will create a safer environment for pedestrians, and this move gives us the opportunity to further improve customer information, including the introduction of real-time updates at the new stops.”
Peter Osborne, Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, added: “We’re proud to be working alongside our partners to deliver real improvements for Folkestone. Kent County Council crews are on the ground regularly to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible during construction, and we remain committed to keeping disruption to a minimum while helping to shape a brighter future for the town.”
To find out more please visit folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/FABF