Potholes in Old Chapel Road

Many thanks to Rachel Waterton for raising the issue of the potholes on Old Chapel Road, scene of yesterday’s accident. I have taken this up with Kent Highways officers. A job was raised yesterday morning for a 7 day repair, but in addition one of the highways officers will revisit today to make sure they are safe in the interim.

Pedham Place and the Sevenoaks Local Plan

Yesterday I submitted my response to Sevenoaks District Council’s Regulation 18 consultation on the Local Plan (Plan 2040). This is copied below; it sets out my concerns about Options 2 and 3 put forward by the Council, both of which incorporate development proposals for 2,500 houses at Pedham Place. The implications of this for Sevenoaks North and Darent Valley, and for the northern parishes of Crockenhill, Eynsford, Farningham and Horton Kirby and South Darenth in particular are very concerning. The proposals for the Wasps stadium in the same area create a still more serious cumulative impact.

Road closures coming up in Shoreham and Crockenhill

A couple of road closures coming up in the area in the near future are for very different reasons.

Fackenden Lane in Shoreham will be closed for up to 4 days starting this Friday (24 February) for its full length, from the junction with the A225 to the junction with Magpie Bottom. This is to enable Kent Highways to carry out carriageway patching - which is welcome given the severe damage that this road has taken during the winter weather. There have been an increasing number of road closures for Kent Highways works recently, reflecting work getting under way to repair the winter damage.

In Crockenhill, the closure of Wested Lane for works carried out by Network Rail, which has been delayed several times, is now scheduled to run from 0600 on 15 March to 1800 on 22 March. The closure will be between Eynsford Road and the Mark Luck Ltd entrance in Wested Lane near the junction with the B2173 London Road in Swanley. The recommended diversion route is via Eynsford Road/ Main Road, Broadway/Green Court Road/Goldsel Road and the B2173.

Wested Lane closure delayed again

The closure of Wested Lane for Network Rail works (already postponed once in the days leading up to the late Queen Elizabeth II's funeral), due to start this morning (14 December) has been postponed once more. This reflected the current rail strikes and the runup to the Christmas period (though presumably the former was the key factor). So far no new date has been given.

New date for Wested Lane works

Many will have seen this, but for anyone who has not, the postponed closure of Wested Lane for Network Rail works has now been rescheduled. The works were planned for September but then delayed because they coincided with extensive use of the trains by people travelling up to London to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II. 

The new closure dates will be from 0600 on 14 December to 1800 on 21 December, with full closure throughout that period. This is of course unwelcome and disruptive very close to Christmas, but looks set to go ahead.

Wested Lane closure delayed

Residents of Crockenhill and neighbouring areas have experienced severe disruption on a number of occasions reflecting ongoing Network Rail works, which in particular have closed Wested Lane.

A further, quite lengthy closure was due to start this morning (running for eight days, 14-21 September). KCC Streetworks raised challenges over the length and impact of the closure, but Network Rail and their contractors were clear that the complexity of the works, and the inability to store equipment on site overnight, meant that the length of the closure could not be reduced. 

However, the closure has now been delayed because Network Rail wanted to prevent disruption to train services to London in the days leading up to and including that of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral. At present we do not have a new date for the closure.

Wested Lane closure in June

Wested Lane in Crockenhill will, once more, be closed - for some 8 days starting on 15 June - to accommodate Network Rail works to stabilise the cutting on either side of the railway bridge. The closure will be 24/7; our Streetworks team did raise questions over the need for this, but I understand that plant and materials are to be stored securely on the road overnight and that this is the basis for the closure.

The diversion route is to be along Eynsford Road, Main Road and into Swanley via Green Court Road/ Goldsel Road.

Crockenhill and Swanley Village - road works and closures

Wested Lane Crockenhill is set for another closure, from 0600 on 1 November to 1600 on 5 November. As before (17 - 21 September), this is because of Network Rail works to stabilise a railway cutting. 

I have checked the situation regarding other works in the area. There are a number of closures during the previous (half term) week, or slightly earlier, but they are scheduled in with Kent Highways' Streetworks team to finish in advance of the Wested Lane works. 

The rail bridge replacement works on Beechenlea Lane in Swanley Village are due to be completed on 24 October. Nearby, Thames Water works in Swanley Village are resulting in a closure on Swanley Village Road from 25 - 31 October. These works have to be carried out in the school holidays, and are also timed not to coincide with the Network Rail works.

Also in Swanley Village, there are works at Harringtons Nursery on Highlands Hill (with two way lights) which are scheduled to finish on 22 October. 

Finally, in Swanley, Hilda May Avenue is also closed for drainage works on 25 - 29  October - also works that have to be completed in the school holidays. 

Road works in Crockenhill and Swanley

A brief update on the utility works that have been contributing to huge traffic disruption in Crockenhill and Swanley.

Thames Water's permit for their works in the centre of Swanley runs out today. They applied for an extension to the permit but KCC/ Kent Highways have refused this. I have spoken with Kent Highways' Streetworks team and I understand that they have been urging (and escalating within Thames Water) that the remaining works, chiefly relating to reinstatement, be expedited. Any continuing work from 0800 Monday will incur a fine, but clearly it is important that the works are concluded well in advance of that.

For the village, this is all exacerbated by the start of the Wested Lane closure for works to the cutting being carried out by Network Rail. This closure started at 0600 this morning and is due to run through until 1800 on Tuesday evening (21 September). However, while this is far from certain, it is quite possible that the works will be concluded, and the closure lifted, sooner.

I will post an update if I get any further information, in particular on expediting the end of the Thames Water works.

Road closures in Swanley Village and Crockenhill

Beechenlea Lane between Swanley and Swanley Village is set for an extended closure of 42 days, from 13 September to 24 October. This is for Network Rail to replace the current rail bridge with a new concrete structure. 

There have already been two shorter road closures related to these works. The first was on 2-3 August, while the second on 24 August was for installation of the required plant. 

The proposed diversion route is via Swanley Village Road, Swanley Lane and High Street/ London Road.

In Crockenhill, Wested Lane will be closed for five days (17 - 21 September inclusive) for Network Rail to undertake works stabilising the cutting near the railway bridge. The closure will be in working hours (0600 to 1800) only. The suggested diversion route is via Crockenhill village, Green Court Road/ Goldsel Road and through Swanley.

Goldsel Road works to go ahead in May: details

The signs are up for works and road closures on Goldsel Road in Crockenhill in May. Because this involves works by both Kent County Council and Highways England, there are a number of different elements to the programme.

From Wednesday 12 May, KCC will carry out night time works to resurface Goldsel Road from Station Road in Swanley to the A20 bridge. This will require night time closures of the road, with works taking place from 8pm to 6am for seven nights, excluding the Saturday and Sunday nights (15 - 16 May). These works should be complete by 6am on Friday 21 May.

On the same day (21 May), at 9PM Highways England will begin work on the bridge structures, removing expansion and mechanical bridge joints and replacing the water proofing on the bridge. All this is necessary to support the milling and resurfacing work(followed by replacement road markings) that KCC’s contractors will be carrying out on the bridge, also over the weekend.

As a result, there will be a full road closure on Goldsel Road over that entire weekend (from the evening of 21 May to 6am on Monday 24 May).

For the rest of that week, Highways England will be working to replace the bridge joints; this will again be overnight working from 8pm to 6am, to be completed by 6am on Saturday 29 May. I have seen notifications of a possible second complete weekend road closure (29-31 May) but I understand that this is purely a contingency arrangement and the HE works should be done by first thing on the Saturday morning.

At the end of all this, we should see a much better and restored surface on the Goldsel Road bridge - something that has been wanted by residents, and has been in preparation by KCC and HE for some time.

Footway surface improvements in Sounds Lodge

Surface improvement works on the footways in Sounds Lodge, Crockenhill, will be carried out in the coming weeks. The surfaces, which have been showing signs of wear and deterioration, will be treated by 'slurry sealing'.

The works will be undertaken in two phases. The first stage, starting on 20 May and lasting for three days, will affect nearby grass verges and also power washing of the footway surface. In the second stage, lasting three days from 15 June, a new surface treatment will be applied. In both cases the works will take place between 8 am and 5 pm.  The paths should be able to be opened up within an hour or so of the new surface being applied.

Yellow lines for Tylers Green Road

Residents of Tylers Green Road have long raised with me concerns over dangerous parking, especially at one of the main bends in the road, and asked for yellow lines to be installed. Kent Highways and Sevenoaks District Council took some persuading, but after a site visit to Crockenhill last year (addressing a range of Highways issues), they concluded that the yellow lines were needed.

After consultation (which met with no objections) Kent Highways undertook to deliver the lining and I am pleased to say that this week the lines were painted. It has taken some time, but this must bear good development for residents of Tylers Greeen Road.

More progress on Crockenhill water problems

There has been further progress in tackling the problems of water leaks and inundation of properties around Crockenhill Primary School.

The source of the water leak has now been traced, and a new water main has been supplied and connected to the existing service. In the process, a gas main was found which will need to be lowered when a new surface is laid.

These latter remedial works will be carried out in the New Year, when the contractors return to the site to commence the fencing works.

There are still a number of issues to be addressed, but it looks as though progress is now being made after a period of major disruption to both local residents and the school.

Crockenhill Primary School: fences and water

I have been working recently on a number of issues in and around Crockenhill Primary School which have been causing difficulty and distress both to the school and to nearby residents.

The first problem is the gradual collapse of a wall separating the school from a neighbouring property and the need to replace it in some way. The school first contacted me about this earlier in the year; I raised the issue with officers at KCC's property arm Gen2, and some progress appeared to be being made. However, this then stalled and the issue was raised with me again some weeks ago.

Meanwhile, a separate issue arose with leaks from the Thames Water system on the school site. KCC facilities management contractors tried to address the problem but had little success and left holes in the playground. More water ran off, affecting neighbouring gardens. I asked Gen2 to get involved, and KCC offered to fund the works, but at this point Thames Water themselves had sent staff to attempt to fix the problem. However, these efforts were also unsuccessful and by this stage I was being contacted by a number of neighbours whose gardens were being inundated.

I visited the school and neighbouring residents some weeks ago and have sought the involvement of senior staff from Gen2. There appears to be some progress, with works on a new fence (to replace the collapsing wall in its entirety) to start this coming Monday (18 November), to be completed by January. Gen2 have also been in contact with the school on the water issues, and I understand that a further Thames Water team will be in the school over this weekend.

SD341 resolution

This time I held off writing anything about the Network Rail works to replace the railway bridge near Crockenhill that has been closed, shutting off access to public footpath SD341, since October 2017. I had twice - in March and in June - eagerly anticipated weekend works that would replace the bridge, only for this to be confounded by bad weather.

So I didn't rush to the keyboard when I heard that the works were due to take place on Sunday 15 September, and for whatever reason this time the weather was benign and the works went ahead.  Once some brickwork is completed, the path should reopen around 7 October.

SD341: delayed again

Once again, my most recent post on the replacement of the railway bridge crossed by SD341, and the consequent reopening of SD341, proved premature.

This time we got as far as Network Rail and its contractors having the new bridge in place and the railway line closed with bus replacement services in operation. However, as in March, the winds were too high, installation did not proceed and on Monday the replacement bridge was driven away. I understand that the next attempt is likely to be in September, and will post again once I know more.

A dispiriting turn in this long-running saga.

SD341: bridge replacement works due to start

Network Rail's replacement of its bridge in Crockenhill, postponed from March, now looks set to get under way.

Network Rail have permits in place for today and tomorrow for vegetation clearance. Waiting restrictions will apply in Green Court Road and Stones Cross Road from 7am tomorrow (Friday 14 June) until 6am on Monday (17 June) to keep the roads clear.   This will allow heavy vehicles, lifting equipment and bridge sections to get to the site).  

The bridge should be replaced over the weekend. It, and with it public footpath SD341, should be open from 24 June.

SD 341: delay at the last moment

As I reported in January, Network Rail had committed to installing a new railway bridge section to replace the unsafe bridge crossed by Right of Way SD341 in Crockenhill in March.

Preparations were advanced for this to take place early tomorrow (Sunday 17 March), with notices going out to residents in Green Court Road asking them to avoid parking that would block the very large lorry bringing the bridge section.

Yesterday, however, Network Rail's contractors had to take the decision to postpone the installation because of a forecast continuation of the high winds. This will result in a 13 week delay, from the anticipated Week 51 of the current financial year to Week 12 of the new financial year, which will take us to mid-June (around the time that the current closure of the path is due to end).

The delay is very disappointing, but hopefully the issue will be resolved in the summer; it has certainly been a problem, especially for walkers, for more than long enough.

SD341: hope for an end to the closure

Public footpath SD341, which runs north-west from Stones Cross Road in Crockenhill, has been closed at the railway bridge since October 2017, as a result of Network Rail concluding that the bridge was unsafe. This has been a cause of mounting concern to residents, not least when the closure has been extended twice, the second ending last week (11 January).

I have taken up these concerns, working with both KCC Rights of Way officers and with Sir Michael Fallon MP, who has raised questions in Parliament with the Transport Secretary.

Just before Christmas (23 December), the bridge itself was removed by Network Rail contractors. This added to the concerns, but on investigation it appears that replacement of the bridge is scheduled for week 51 of the financial year (17 March). Once the works have been completed, the footpath should be able to reopen, probably around the end of March. In that case, the full extent of the new closure (running from 11 January until 21 June) should not be needed.