Community Engagement Have Your Say - Speeding in the Village

Community Engagement

Have Your Say – Speeding in the Village

In recent years the speed limits in the village have been reduced. For example The Street was reduced to 20mph and Lower Hartlip Road, Munns Lane, Hollow Lane and Old House Lane have all been reduced from the national speed limit (which is 60mph for single carriageways) to 40mph.

With an increase in traffic cutting through the village due to the numerous road closures in the surrounding areas over the last couple of years, some residents have commented on the increase in traffic and the inappropriate speed that some drivers travel at through the lanes.

Last year the Parish Council approached the KCC Highways and Road Safety Team to discuss the matter with the Parish Council proposing to reduce speed limits further for Mill Lane, Munns Lane, Lower Hartlip Road, Old House Lane and Hollow Lane.

KCC rely on data from reported accidents and black box data installed in cars along with likely compliance of the speed limit in deciding whether a change is supported. Road conditions (narrow lane/bends) are less likely to influence a decision unless it is a built up area or there is a school or park for example.

Unfortunately, following a survey and visit to the village, the proposal for both Lower Hartlip Road, Old House Lane and Hollow Lane were not accepted by KCC and whilst some questioned the way in which decisions are based (e.g. the black box data) their decision was final. They did however offer to set up a traffic survey for Mill Lane and Munns Lane.

The results of the survey were discussed in a meeting between KCC, HPC and Mike Baldock KCC councillor for Swale who supported HPC and we continued to lobby for a reduction of speed limit to 20mph for both Mill Lane and Munns Lane.

Our justification for the change was the fact that the recreation ground and children’s play area is located in Munns Lane and that Mill Lane was the access to the village bus stop on the A2. Residents also regularly walk to and fro Mill Lane to get to the school, church and village hall and the narrow lane was perilous for pedestrians hence a reduction to 20mph in an attempt to get drivers to slow down.

The issue of non-compliance of the speed limit was cited again as a reason not to agree the reduction. Having stated that they themselves would not walk along Mill Lane it was agreed they would take the matter away and discuss it with colleagues internally.

Just before Christmas a response was received that for a 20mph limit to be imposed, the current average speeds would need to be 24mph to ensure the limit is self-enforcing. The traffic survey results had higher speeds and therefore there would not be good compliance. They concluded that the best way forward was for the Parish Council to carry out an informal engagement with residents to ensure there was strong community support.

So as residents of Hartlip your views are important and we encourage you to answer the following short questionnaire so we can gain your views.

Please forward your answers to clerk@hartlippc.gov.uk

Questionnaire

1. Have you experienced an increase in traffic through the village?
2. Have you witnessed speeding drivers and if so where?
3. As a pedestrian walking around the village have you experienced a dangerous situation with a speeding vehicle?
4. Are you aware of any road traffic collisions in the village recently and if so where?
5. Do you support a 20mph speed limit in Mill Lane?
6. Do you support a 20mph limit in Munns Lane?
7. Would you like to see addition signage for example, slow/pedestrian signs/road markings?
8. Would you like to see any other traffic calming measures and if so what?
9. Would you prefer things left as they are?
10. Do you have any other comments?