Eynsford school run: next steps

On Thursday morning I joined members of the School Run Safety Campaign (SRSC), the Parish Council and Kent Highways Officers to review the impact so far of the yellow lines installed in the High Street just over a fortnight ago.

We all recognised long in advance that the yellow lines would be only part - albeit an important one - of the response to the traffic issues around the school, that we would need to watch for any intended or unintended consequences of their implementation, and that there are other changes (in particular, the careful use of bollards) that could and should be made on the roads and pavements.

Experience so far suggests that the lines outside Alton Cottages have had a beneficial effect. Among the big continuing concerns are vehicles mounting the pavement; parking on narrow stretches of pavement that blocks pedestrian access, especially for anyone with a buggy; and cars parking across the newly installed dropped kerbs.

We agreed that bollards should be installed in three places: on the narrow pavement near the school entrance, where children pass through in large numbers after the end of the school day; a little further along the same stretch of pavement, outside 19 Alton Cottages; and to one side of the dropped kerb near the junction with Priory Lane. In addition, a pedestrian sign will be put on the column by the corner of Priory Lane to alert drivers to those crossing at the dropped kerb.

These measures (which will be paid for from my Combined Member Fund) will be implemented as soon as possible. We also examined the situation further south on the High Street (heading towards the Bower Lane junction). There is an argument for some bollards to be installed there too, and this was discussed at previous meetings with Kent Highways. There are, however, practical problems; for example, regulations do not allow bollards to be placed on narrow sections of pavement, where they would make the space for pedestrians too narrow - but if they are installed on the wider sections, cars will park on the narrower sections, making the pedestrians' problems still worse. 

We therefore agreed to review the situation again, around Easter, and come to a decision then as to whether more bollards are required. As we come into the new financial year, we will also look at the possibility of resurfacing the pavement outside Alton Cottages, which is in poor condition and likely to take an increasing number of pedestrians.

I will write a further update after we next review the situation around Easter.

Drainage works for Eynsford 'lake'

Anyone in or passing through the centre of Eynsford recently will have seen the works (pictured) taking place near Gibson's Place. These are being carried out by Kent Highways and are designed to address the long-standing flooding there, about which I have posted before. The flooding problems have generated a mini (or not so mini-) lake whenever there is significant rainfall, creating significant problems for residents, the butcher's opposite, parents taking children to the school and others.

The current works in the carriageway should be complete by the end of the week, with the next phase starting next Monday (20 February). A new pipe, running from the current area of flooding, will be installed along with a large catch pit. The final section of piping (some 6 metres) that connects the drainage system under Gibson's Place to the river will be upgraded, with a flap over the end of the pipe run to prevent water running back up the drainage system when the river levels are high.

Barring weather or other setbacks, the works should be completed by the following weekend (around 25 February). Then we will wait to see if - as will hopefully be the case - this long-standing problem has been tackled.

Yellow lines go in

Shortly before Christmas, the Sevenoaks JTB approved two important lines projects in Darent Valley.  These were for Alton Cottages in High Street, Eynsford, just north of Anthony Roper Primary School, and for Green Court Road in Crockenhill. Both are designed to help tackle the parking problems near the respective village schools.

The issues in Eynsford in particular have been very long running, and the new measures have been carried out working with the School Run Safety Campaign in the village. The yellow lines (which are likely to be supplemented very shortly by bollards at critical points  in the village) should be complemented by greater access to alternative parking places, such as the car park next to the scout hut and parish office.

As of today, the yellow lines are installed in both locations. I will add a picture as soon as possible.