Agenda item

A)  Notice has been given pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 12 of the intention to present a petition in the following terms:

Platts Heath Safe Transport Scheme

We, the undersigned, call upon Kent County Council to produce, with local community participation, a transport plan to make our village safe and sustainable for the future.

We request:

·  A maximum speed limit of 20mph in School Lane

·  20mph outside the school in Headcorn Road

·  Investigations to take place to identify methods to slow down traffic entering from the north and south on Headcorn Road

·  The 30mph speed limit in Lenham Road to be extended further south as outlined in a previous report sent to Maidstone Joint Transportation Board

·  Improved and additional signage and road markings

We ask that Kent County Council fully consider these requests and produce a plan that works and enables the community to have a safer environment for all residents. Consultation and input must include the School and all local residents and plans implemented at the Council’s earliest opportunity.

B)  Notice has been given pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 12 of the intention to present a petition in the following terms:

We the undersigned agree with the Planning Committee of the Maidstone Borough Council when at their meeting on 28 May 2015 and in connection with the proposed development on the Mayfield Nursery site (Planning Application number 13/1823); they voted for the following Informative to be added to the Planning consent:

“The highway improvements to the A20 associated with the development shall include the provision of a pedestrian footway along the southern side of the highway linking the development with the existing bus stop and an uncontrolled crossing in the close vicinity of the existing bus stop.”

We urge Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council to ensure that this resolution is carried out before first occupation of the Mayfield Nursery development.

The Chairman has agreed to waive the requirement for the wording of a petition to be given in writing at least two weeks before the day of the meeting.

Ms Kathy Hales presented a petition to the Committee with the following wording:

Platts Heath Safe Transport Scheme

We, the undersigned, call upon Kent County Council to produce, with local community participation, a transport plan to make our village safe and sustainable for the future.

We request:

·  A maximum speed limit of 20mph in School Lane

·  20mph outside the school in Headcorn Road

·  Investigations to take place to identify methods to slow down traffic entering from the north and south on Headcorn Road

·  The 30mph speed limit in Lenham Road to be extended further south as outlined in a previous report sent to Maidstone Joint Transportation Board

·  Improved and additional signage and road markings

We ask that Kent County Council fully consider these requests and produce a plan that works and enables the community to have a safer environment for all residents. Consultation and input must include the School and all local residents and plans implemented at the Council’s earliest opportunity.

Ms Hales addressed the Committee on this petition and stated that she was concerned about:

·  The speed of vehicles travelling through the area;

·  The amount of larger vehicles, such as car transporters, logistics lorries and large tipping trucks, using the narrow lanes as a rat run; and

·  The quality of life and wellbeing of those living in the area.

RESOLVED:That a report be brought back to a future meeting of this Committee.

Mr Christopher Roots presented a petition to the Committee with the following wording:

We the undersigned agree with the Planning Committee of the Maidstone Borough Council when at their meeting on 28 May 2015 and in connection with the proposed development on the Mayfield Nursery site (Planning Application number 13/1823); they voted for the following Informative to be added to the Planning consent:

“The highway improvements to the A20 associated with the development shall include the provision of a pedestrian footway along the southern side of the highway linking the development with the existing bus stop and an uncontrolled crossing in the close vicinity of the existing bus stop.”

We urge Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council to ensure that this resolution is carried out before first occupation of the Mayfield Nursery development.

The Chairman had agreed to waive the requirement for the wording of a petition to be given in writing at least two weeks before the day of the meeting as the petition directly related to an item on the Work Programme.

Mr Roots addressed the Committee on this petition and stated that:

·  The new Mayfield Nursery development included an uncontrolled crossing to be paid for by the developer;

·  The crossing needed to be sited somewhere that it was safe and accessible to residents;

·  The current position of the crossing on the plans was sited very near to the entrance of Hawkley Lodge, which could result in drivers clipping the central refuge or the opposite curb when turning and would also mean that drivers would have to turn at full lock to get out of the driveway, when other drivers on the road were accelerating at full speed to join the A20; and

·  The footway on the current scheme stops short of the existing bus stop.

Mr Roots urged Kent County Council to ensure that this important crossing and refuge was moved nearer to the bus stop, where it would be safe and useful to all.

RESOLVED:That a report be brought back to a future meeting of this Committee.