1.1      The current Kent Design Guide (KDG) requires all new developments to have a  design speed of 20mph and this is achieved through layout and traffic calming features. This would apply to those roads containing housing rather than the spine or distributor road through the development.

1.2      The KDG is currently under review but the above principle is being fully maintained in the updated version.

1.3       The guide deals with the issue of target design speeds and provides for each class of road from Local Distributor Road, down to Minor Access Way/Lane of 20/15mph. These reduce as you go into the development as they serve dwellings rather than access through the site. 

1.4      There is currently no policy or requirement, to introduce a speed limit on these roads as they are designed for a target speed of less than 20mph.  These 20mph limits are self-enforcing using design layout and traffic calming and it would seem unnecessary to provide extensive signing and lining to support and enforce the design speed.

1.5       The current policy from the Police is that speed limits should be self-enforcing (as the Police will not undertake any enforcement on them) which would have been met through the Kent design process.

1.6      By the introduction of any 20mph limit, there would always be the expectation from the public that there would be enforcement, the Police resources would not be sufficient to support active enforcement on these limits.

1.7      At a time when KCC are looking to minimise the amount of signage in new developments in line with the ‘KCC Well managed highways framework’, this would add to the list of statutory inspection items to be covered when we inspect our roads, and create an unnecessary burden to the inspections team.

1.8       The recommendation of officers would be that it is unnecessary to introduce traffic regulation orders to enforce 20mph speed limits when they are already designed to this speed in the Kent Design Guide.