Update on Petitions submitted to Kent Highway Services
A report by the Head of Transport & Development to the Joint Transportation Board
Summary
- A report to update the Board on the current status of petitions received by Kent Highway Services (KHS) and notification of any new petitions received since the last meeting.
Traffic Calming Measures, Heath Road, Coxheath
- A petition was submitted in April 2008 by 59 residents, lead by Mr A R Monk of Westerhill Road, Coxheath. It sought action to improve the traffic calming measures installed along Heath Road, Coxheath as the petitioners felt these were dangerous.
- KHS has recently made some necessary amendments to the existing scheme to ensure it compiles with current highway standards. Following a recent meeting between the Parish Council and County Council Cabinet Member for the Environment, Highways and Waste it has been agreed to carry out a before and after review of the crash statistics for the scheme currently implemented before any further decisions on the scheme are made. Due to current gas works delaying necessary traffic surveys and a stage three safety audit this review will now not be completed until late May 2010.
Request for the Implementation of a Weight Restriction through Yalding
- A petition was submitted in September 2008 by Yalding Parish Council with over 570 signatures supporting a previous request for a weight restriction through Yalding and that surveys of lorry movements through Yalding and East Farleigh be undertaken.
- At a meeting with Nick Chard, the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways & Waste and the Chair of this Board it was reaffirmed that Kent Highway Services would not be funding local lorry movement surveys in the Yalding area but would target resources at tackling the issue on a countywide basis. The County Council are currently preparing a freight strategy for Kent which outlines a list of actions as to how it proposes to achieve this.
- A recent meeting has been held between Members of this Board and KHS officers to discuss the potential scope of a traffic survey for this area to enable an accurate cost estimate to be obtained. A verbal update of the cost of the survey should be available for the meeting.
Closure of Pheasant Lane, Maidstone South
- A petition was submitted in August 2008 by some 120 residents, lead by Mr David Frais of Osborne House, Loose Road of the Pheasant Lane Action Group which sought the closure of Pheasant Lane to vehicles other than for residential access. The petitioners felt the lane was being used as a rat run, was too narrow for the volume of traffic has too many blind bends with drivers driving too fast and pedestrians are at great risk.
- At the October 2009 meeting of this Board it was approved to close Pheasant Lane to all through traffic by means of lockable bollards on an experimental basis. KHS have made the order to close Pheasant Lane on an experimental basis however, we are still awaiting a date from our contractors for the installation of the bollards.
Road Safety Measures along Walderslade Woods Road
- Kent Highway Services received a petition from Mrs Gillian Tatnell from Walderslade Woods with 212 signatures requesting a reduction in speed limit with traffic islands and hatching. The petition received the support of Boxley Parish Council although Walderslade Woods Road falls within both Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling and his been reported to both Joint Transportation Boards.
- At the last meeting of this Board a full update was given on the outcomes of KHS’s investigations with a recommendation to submit a scheme for funding through the Local Transport Plans Integrated Transport Programme for 2011/12. The scheme consists of gateway signage improvements, improvements to the side road junction warning signs and also to provide traffic islands to protect right turning traffic. The bid has now been submitted and future updates on this scheme will be included as part of the Integrated Transport Programme.
Speed Limit Review on the A20 through Harrietsham
- At the last meeting of this Board it was reported that KHS had received a petition from residents of Harrietsham and Lenham in response to the review of speed limit on A20. 48 Pages of signatures were received highlighting residents’ extreme disappointment of the review carried out by the County Council on the speed limit on the A20 through Harrietsham and Lenham. The petition requests that a new review is carried out which looks at implementing speed reduction measures along the route. This petition has been passed to the speed limit review team who will respond to the issues raised in the petition.
New Petitions Received
- At the time of writing this report KHS have received five new petitions since the last meeting of this board.
Residents of Tovil Green Court
- A petition, containing 31 signatures, has been received from the residents of Tovil Green Court, Maidstone requesting the provision of pedestrian facilities along Burial Ground Lane and Farleigh Hill to enable better pedestrian access to Tesco’s and Lidl’s. KHS are currently investigating this request with a view of submitting a bid through the Local Transport Plans Integrated Transport Programme.
Penenden Heath Pre-School, Maidstone
- A petition, containing 99 signatures, has been received from the local residents and parents of children at Penenden Heath Pre-School, Maidstone requesting safety improvements along the road approaching Penenden Heath Roundabout from Boxley Village. KHS are currently investigating this request with a view of submitting a bid through the Local Transport Plans Integrated Transport Programme.
Pedestrian Crossing on Loose Road between Armstrong Road & The Wheatsheaf
- A petition, support by 186 signatures, has been received from the local residents requesting a Pedestrian Crossing on Loose Road between Armstrong Road & The Wheatsheaf. KHS are currently investigating this request with a view of submitting a bid through the Local Transport Plans Integrated Transport Programme.
Parking Issues Tudor Avenue
- KHS have been passed a petition with 54 signatures from the residents of Tudor Avenue, Maidstone requesting parking restrictions be implemented to deal with commuter parking that the residents feel is causing potential road safety problems. KHS will work with the Borough Council to ascertain whether parking restrictions are required in this area.
Sutton Road Service Road
- KHS has received a petition supported by 55 out of the 66 residents in Sutton Road service road raising concerns over the volume of traffic and speed of traffic using the service road to avoid traffic signals on the A274. KHS will investigate the petitioners concerns and will report back to the next meeting of this Board.
Accountable Officer: Andy Corcoran 01622 798378