Safety on the Dartford Road

Yesterday, accompanied by a Kent Highways officer, I met local residents concerned about speed and safety on the Dartford Road, in particular near the junction with Calfstock Lane (in Farningham) and in the area to the north of the junction with Franks Lane (in Horton Kirby). In both places - because of bends in the road - there are concerns about the dangers of turning onto the main road, where visibility is poor and cars can approach at high speeds.

In the longer run, there may be some scope for looking at speed limits, although changing limits can be tricky. It's very desirable to have police support in enforcing speed limits, and the police need to be convinced that the limit bears a realistic relationship to the speeds that drivers are likely to employ - in other words, that it should be to a significant extent 'self-enforcing'. More immediately, however, a lot can and will be be done to improve signage and hence drivers' awareness that they are approaching a turning. This will involve both some new signs on posts and adding to and improving the rather faded 'SLOW' signs in the road. Works should be undertaken once spring approaches and the weather improves.

£6,000 grant for Royal British Legion in South Darenth

In addition to or individual Member Community Grants, Sevenoaks County Councillors can allocate £40,000 each year to community capital projects in the Sevenoaks District - the Small Community Capital Grant.

This year the £40,000 pot was heavily over-subscribed, making for some difficult decisions for the seven Sevenoaks County Members. However, I am pleased that we were able to agree a £6,000 grant to the South Darenth and District Royal British Legion for improvements to their car park. The Legion has carried out an impressive amount of fund-raising on its own account, and this grant will provide an essential top-up to help the works to go ahead.

Details of new 411 route this week

As reported in my post of 20 November, Go-Coach with support from KCC is providing a replacement bus for the overcrowded 413 to Leigh Technology Academy. Pressures on this service have been a worry for families from Farningham, Horton Kirby and South Darenth. The new service will be running from the start of term in January.

The 411 will follow much of the 413's existing route, from White Post Corner up the A225 to the junction with Cedar Drive, and on to Leigh Technology Academy and ultimately the Longfield Academy. Go-Coach are handing out details on the bus this week. Hopefully the new term will be much easier on the young people travelling to school than this term has been.

Snow arrives, and with it problems on Rock Hill

With the first snowfall of winter, I have had calls from local residents about problems on Rock Hill in Well Hill. The road is treated as a secondary route in Kent Highways Winter Service Plan, which means that it is treated in periods of prolonged winter weather. Secondary routes were gritted on Monday night, and following a call to KHS I was able to confirm that gritters were going out on secondary routes this lunchtime. I understand that the gritter broke down on Rock Hill but that the work should be completed shortly.

There are particular problems on the side of the hill facing towards Bromley because of water runoff - something that we are once more working to resolve (see post of 24 August). In addition, at some points in the past, the Bromley side of the hill was missed off the gritting route, even though those who live there are still Kent residents and council tax payers. This is a point that I have taken up with KHS in the past, and they have confirmed that both sides of the hill are on the route.

However, today's problems were on the Shoreham as well as the Bromley-facing side of the hill. The arrival of the gritter should resolve the problems for new, but I will keep in contact with local residents to monitor problems and see if a Plan B is needed for this high and steep road.

Three Highways schemes for Crockenhill

Three schemes paid for from my Member Highway Fund have recently been implemented in Crockenhill.

Local residents and the Parish Council were concerned about the western side of Daltons Road, where the verge has been weakened and there was a risk of cars that pulled in to pass others not seeing the drop into the neighbouring field. After two site meetings, Kent Highways proposed bollards as a solution (other options, such as a bund, were considered) and these have now been installed at a cost of £1,500.

A safety barrier on Broadway, on the old Anchor in Hope site, had long been damaged and has now been replaced at a cost of £200.

Finally, the Parish Council asked for a salt bin to be installed near the Fruiterers Arms in Eynsford Road. This was done in time for the current cold snap at a cost of £350.

Hopefully all these schemes will deliver real benefits to Crockenhill residents. The biggest scheme for the village is the set of safety measures at the junction of Main Road, Cray Road and Broadway (see my post of 11 October). Kent Highways officers have come up with new proposals and these will be discussed at the Parish Council meeting on the 13th.  

Eynsford School Run Safety Campaign Update

The Eynsford School Run Safety Campaign, of which I am a member, met on 19 November. Here is a one page update (News Sheet No. 2 of the Campaign) written by John Harris, Chairman of the Campaign, which gives a useful summary of where we are:

The group has been quite busy since the last Newsletter so here is a summary of the progress we have made to date:

·         At our request, Eynsford Parish Council has asked KCC to install time-limited yellow lines outside Alton Cottages (i.e. the school side) in order to prevent parking on both sides of the A225 during the school run.

·         In concert with this, we are actively pursuing provision of off-street parking very close to the Alton Cottage/Fernbank area to accommodate the overspill.

·         We are investigating ways in which cars on the Fernbank side (i.e. opposite the school) can be parked so as not to obstruct/block the pavement – then children alighting from these cars could cross the road safely using the Zebra crossing.

·         We continue to look into setting up a “walking bus” from the Farningham village end – more news later – and, as part of this, the dangerous bend at the “gap” between Oliver Crescent and the start of the Millfield footpath has been noted and we shall investigate, with KCC’s advice, measures that could be taken to make this area safer for pedestrians.

·         Cllr. Mike Horwood, SDC Councillor for Eynsford, is looking into providing yellow safety over-vests (“tabards”) with the SRSC logo for all children at the school so that any walking they do participate in will be that much safer for them.

·         Cllr. Roger Gough, KCC Councillor for Darent Valley, is taking a preliminary look at the costs and logistics of setting up a private bus service from the outlying areas (e.g. West Kingsdown, Swanley, Crockenhill, Knatts Valley). Mrs. Newton will be surveying the likely take-up of such a service in order to get more accurate costs.

·         Parents will also be surveyed to see how many might use a “drop-off” zone (i.e where the vehicle stops but only the child alights)

Remember, if you drive to school…………

v     park safely

v     park politely

v     park without obstructing other parents and road-users

John Harris (SRSC Chairman, 01322 862699)

A solution for the 413 bus

Since early this term, parents of children going to Leigh Technology Academy from the Horton Kirby and South Darenth area have been expressing their concerns about overcrowding on the 413 bus. I have raised the issue with both KCC officers and the bus provider, Go-Coach, who have been looking for ways to resolve the problem.

A solution is now in sight, and should come into effect at the start of the new term. The 413 bus will no longer go to Leigh Technology Academy, but will instead focus on the Dartford secondary schools. Quite separately, a new bus - provisionally known as the 411 - will serve Leigh Technology Academy directly. It will be provided by Go-Coach and supported by funding from KCC.

This has been a difficult term for parents and young people travelling to Leigh Technology Academy, but it now looks as though the New Year will bring a welcome new service.