The ongoing vandalism of a pedestrian crossing in Cage Green near Tonbridge has left the community outraged and concerned for the safety of children, elderly residents, and those with disabilities. The crossing, located on Shipbourne Road near schools and a busy residential area, has been repeatedly targeted since 2021, costing Kent County Council thousands of pounds in repairs.
Most recently, the vandalism included a threatening message to Kent County Council, It read: “KCC this is the last of the button. This cost you big time. You know what you did in 2012.”. This malicious damage has forced the council to switch off the crossing, leaving residents without a vital safety feature.
Green Party councillor Mark Hood has condemned the attacks, saying:
“The vandalism to the crossing is targeted at the county council but it is damaging our community. It disproportionately puts children and the elderly at risk, and there is a danger that we will need to replace the crossing with a lower specification which will disadvantage disabled residents. It is mindless destruction which, apart from the cost, puts lives at risk.”
He added that this ongoing vandalism is a significant drain on resources:
“Kent County Council has £1.1 billion of outstanding repairs to carry out to bring the highways network up to the required standard, and this level of additional cost doesn’t help.”
Cllr Hood and fellow Green councillor Paul Stepto have urged the community to come forward with any information that could help identify the perpetrator. In a joint statement posted on Facebook, they said:
“Children trying to get to school and elderly people trying to get to York Parade or the doctors are placed at greater risk each time the crossing is out of action.
“The person responsible has a grudge against the county council extending long before your current councillors were elected, but the fact is our community is suffering every time this happens.”
They urged anyone with information to contact Kent Police on 101. You can find their full post bellow:
We Do Not Condone This Behaviour
We stand firmly against this dangerous and destructive behaviour. The repeated attacks on the crossing endanger vulnerable members of our community and waste vital resources. While we understand frustration with council decisions, these actions are unacceptable and must stop to protect our residents.
If you have any information about these incidents, please contact Kent Police on 101.