Mike Sole Reporting Back: March 2026

I am pleased to be able to provide this March 2026 update.

It’s been a busy month in Canterbury. The meningitis outbreak has been heartbreaking for those affected. Thankfully there have not been any new cases recently but it has been awful for those impacted and the City Council has been working with other agencies during this difficult time.

There was understandably a reduction in the number of visitors to Canterbury, but things recovered with the arrival of the new Archbishop of Canterbury, and I was pleased to be among those who welcomed her to Canterbury after her pilgrimage a few days before the official installation.

Over the Easter period from 2 – 19 April Park & Ride will cost just £1 (or 80p for those signed up for the resident discount). This is great value and I hope that it will encourage more people to visit Canterbury and see how convenient the Park & Ride service is.

I’ve had a few small victories with KCC this month involving drainage issues. Some long-standing problems in Pett Bottom are being addressed, some French Drains will be installed between Barham and Breach where it regularly floods, and the cabinet member for highways has agreed to look at issues in Bridge during a site visit with drainage engineers in April.

At the Joint Transportation Board, I spoke against the introduction of a 20-minute parking restriction in Bridge. There had been record opposition from residents to this proposed change, so I am pleased that things are staying as they are.

The full council meeting at KCC hit the headlines for several reasons. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions, but whilst the chaos continues, I’ll continue to work to get things done at a local level.

I met up with residents in Barham and then had a meeting with KCC and Barham Parish Council to see what else can be done to stop HGVs driving along The Street and Church Lane, only to get stuck because they have ignored signs. 

Other issues that I have been dealing with in March include, school places appeal, potholes, hedge trimming, streetlights, public rights of way, fly-tipping and parking enforcement.

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