Update on Petitions submitted to Kent County Council

 

A report by the Head of Transport & Development to the Joint Transportation Board

 

 

Summary

 

1. A report to update the Board on the current status of petitions received by Kent Highway Services (KHS).

 

Traffic Calming Measures, Heath Road, Coxheath

 

2. 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.

 

3. A number of changes have been carried out to the traffic calming since the submission of this petition and as previously reported KHS had agreed to carry out a review of the safety record in Coxheath, further speed checks and complete the safety audit of the current scheme. This work has been completed and sent to the both the County Councillor and Parish Council. The Parish Council have recently held an exhibition to consult the community of Coxheath on alternative proposals put forward by their independent consultants prior to further discussions with Kent County Council.

 

4.   Arrangements are currently being undertaken by the Cabinet Member in organising a meeting with Coxheath Parish Council to discuss a way forward.

 

Request for the Implementation of a Weight Restriction through Yalding

 

5. 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.

 

6. It was reported at the last meeting of this Board that surveys, paid for by the local County Councillor and Parish Council, had been carried out in November 2010. KHS received the results of these surveys in February 2011 and have subsequently circulated these to the relevant Councillors and Parish Councils. Once the Councillors and Parish Councils have had opportunity to consider these results further discussions will be held with the local community on the way forward. A verbal update on the Freight Action Plan for Kent will be given at the meeting.

 

7. Kent County Council has undertaken a meeting with Cllr Wilson, Cllr Stockell, and Cllr Blackmore together with Mrs Brown of Yalding Parish Council. It has been agreed that Kent County Council will trial a Weight Restriction on a section of the B2162 to seek the effects of the restriction on surrounding roads. KCC Officers are currently working on the scope of the restrictions, funding is being sourced from Cllr Stockell’s Member Highway Fund.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parking Issues Tudor Avenue

 

8. It has been reported to previous meetings of this Board that KHS had 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.

 

9. It was proposed that KHS would advertise a Traffic Regulation Order giving notice of the intention to install double yellow lines at certain points along Tudor Avenue to improve road safety on the 26^th January 2011. However, due to staff sickness and shortages it has not been possible to progress this Order and KHS are now procuring additional resources and expertise to overcome this problem. Once these resources are in place this Order will be progressed as a priority. 

 

10. Kent Highway Services are now in a position to progress the Order. However, due to limited funding being allocated to safety related parking restrictions, officers are batching requests with the view to advertise different locations within Maidstone under a single Traffic Order. This is to provide efficiency and a more cost effective way of managing funds.

 

11. Due to the timescales, Cllr Chittenden has agreed to fund the said restrictions with additional measures through his Member Highway Fund. The said Traffic Order is to be advertised in November 2011 together with other locations through Cllr Chittenden’s MHF process.

 

12. Cllr Chittenden has agreed to fund the work through his Member Highway Fund, it has proved more cost effective to combine these works with additional parking requests in his ward. Works are progressing.

 

13. Consultation is currently being undertaken by Kent County Council for the proposed restrictions.

 

Postley Road, Maidstone

 

14. A petition has been received from the residents of Postley Road, Maidstone which raises concern over the dangerous and increasingly unacceptable use of the road by buses including speeding. Kent Highway Services have meet with the lead petitioner and are investigating the issues raised by the petitioners. KHS are currently arranging a meeting with the local Councillors to discuss a way forward with respect to this petition.

 

15. The above meeting was held between local Councillors and it has been agreed that Postley Road will be proposed as part of the Speed Reduction pilot project with measures to be implemented to reduce vehicular speed on Postley Road.

 

16. Designs are currently being made and discussions are ongoing with the County Councillor regarding the scheme.

 

17. Design has been approved; Kent County Council will now undertake formal consultation regarding the location of Interactive Signs associated with the scheme with the view to advertise the Traffic Order Associated with the works.

 

 

 

 

 

Boxley Road and Beechen Bank Road

 

18. At the a previous meeting of this Board a petition was received requesting a reduction in the speed limit along Boxley Road and Beechen Bank Road. KHS commissioned a speed survey and have now received the results from its consultants and have reviewed the personal injury crash records along Boxley & Beechen Bank Road. KHS are currently arranging a meeting with the local Councillors and Parish Council to discuss a way forward with respect to this petition.

 

19. A meeting was held between Officers, Boxley Parish Council and Cllr Carter regarding speed limits along the above-mentioned roads. The results of the surveys showed that the existing speed limit could be reduced and Boxley Parish Council is liaising with officers regarding funding for these works.

 

20. Boxley Parish Council is funding the speed limit reduction on Boxley Road, designs and costs have been approved by Boxley Parish Council. Negotiations are ongoing regarding the delivery of the works.

 

Speed limit Reduction - Charlton Lane, West Farleigh

 

21. At the previous meeting of this Board, the Chairman of West Farleigh Parish Council, presented a petition requesting a reduction in the speed limit on Charlton Lane, West Farleigh from 60 mph to 30 mph for the safety and protection of all residents and road users.

 

22. At the meeting it was confirmed that Cllr Stockell had agreed to fund the cost of the reduced speed limit in Charlton Lane from her Member Highway Fund and that KCC will be proceeding on that basis. A Traffic Regulation Order to reduce the speed limit will be produced and future updates will be included in the Member Highway Fund Update report.

 

23. Consultation in process regarding the speed limit alteration.

 

Speed Limit Reduction in Sheephurst Lane, Collier Street

 

24. Kent Highway Services have received a petition from residents of Sheephurst Lane requesting that the current speed limit is reduced. The petition has 68 signatures supporting a change in the existing speed limit. There have been no reported personal injury crashes over the last 3 year period as a resultant of speeding.

 

25. Kent Highway Services will investigate the request from the lead petitioner with the view to provide an update at the next Joint Transportation Board.

 

26. The safety record along this route has been investigated. The analysis of the personal injury crashes on Sheephurst Lane does not demonstrate that a lower speed limit would provide a quantifiable crash saving and does not meet with the intervention level set by the County Council therefore, funding would not be available via the Casualty Reduction Programme. KHS will discuss these findings with the local Member to see whether any alternative measures could be provided via the Member Highway Fund.

 

27. Cllr Stockell has agreed to fund the speed limit reduction. Works will be progressed through the Member Highway Fund process.

 

 

 

Speed Limit Reduction in Green Lane, Collier Street

 

28. Kent County Council Highway Services has received a petition from residents of Green Lane Cottages, Green Lane, requesting that the current speed limit is reduced. The petition has 7 signatures supporting a change in the existing speed limit. There have been no reported personal injury crashes over the last 3 year period as a resultant of speeding.

 

29. Kent Highway Services will investigate the request from the lead petitioner with the view to provide an update at the next Joint Transportation Board.

 

30. Cllr Stockell has agreed to fund the speed limit reduction. Works will be progressed through the Member Highway Fund process.

 

New Petitions

 

31. There are currently no new petitions to report to this Board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update on 20MPH Zones in Maidstone

 

32. Kent County Council Highway Services are in the process of installing the said measures at locations previously agreed. Surveys are currently being undertaken onsite identifying the existing vehicle speeds in the vicinity of the schools.

 

33. Designs are currently being drafted at selected locations with the view to install the measures in 2012. Kent County Council will be working with Schools trying to reduce any congestion during the construction phase.

 

34. Discussions are still ongoing with County Councillors regarding each individual scheme ensuring that the trialled 20Mph Zones meet the requirements of the County Councillors. For updates on the 20Mph zones, I encourage Members of this board to contact the Highway Officer working on the scheme. 

 

 

 

Accountable Officer:              Andy Corcoran 01233 648302