Agenda item

To consider the attached report of the Head of Transportation, Kent County Council.

The Traffic Engineer introduced the report which set out proposals to introduce restrictions on turning movements into and out of Felderland Lane, Worth, a road in a largely rural area with a 30mph speed limit.  Due to its location, it was frequently used as a shortcut between the A256 Eastry by-pass and the A258 Deal Road, and residents had raised concerns for a number of years over large vehicles and speeding traffic.  The proposals were supported by Councillor Leyland Ridings, the KCC Member for the Division, who was intending to use his Member Highway Fund (MHF) to fund the proposal.  Of 58 responses received during consultation, 31 had supported the proposal, 25 had objected and 2 had partly supported the proposal.  Members were also referred to comments circulated before the meeting from the Clerk to Eastry Parish Council and a District Councillor, both of whom objected to the proposals.

Councillor L B Ridings spoke in favour of the proposals, arguing that the extra distance involved for drivers having to use the roundabouts would be just under half a mile.  However, he accepted the arguments put forward regarding farm vehicles and proposed that these and emergency vehicles should be exempted from the restriction.  There were serious concerns about the road and its use as a rat-run, and the proposals had been developed in order to prevent death or serious injury.

Councillor P Walker voiced concerns about the report which he felt lacked conclusive evidence to support the proposals, and the danger of vehicles doing u-turns at the Links Farm lay-by.  Other locations had similar problems yet there were no proposals to address these.  Furthermore, it appeared that Kent County Council’s (KCC) intervention criteria had not been met.  Whilst he had some sympathy for the residents of Felderland Lane, he was not convinced that the case for such restrictions had been substantiated.  Councillor G Cowan agreed, commenting that it was around 18 months since speed restrictions had been introduced in Felderland Lane and these should remain without alterations.  It was important to heed the concerns of the local community.  However, the number of respondents for and against the proposals was close, and the report gave no indication as to whether respondents were local residents.

Councillor F J W Scales stated that he could not support what he considered to be a draconian proposal when there was no overwhelming support for it.  There were clearly problems at Felderland Lane, but further evidence was needed on whether vehicle speeds had reduced since the introduction of the 30mph speed limit.  Councillor T A Bond stated that he was normally in favour of the local community making local decisions, but the report failed to clarify the level of support amongst residents of Felderland Lane. He also raised concerns about drivers doing u-turns on the A258, and the likelihood that the restrictions would not be adequately enforced by Kent Police.  

The Traffic Engineer advised that surveys had been conducted by local residents but he was not aware of any having been done by KCC.  To his knowledge, there had been no personal injury crashes since the 30mph restriction was introduced. Councillor Ridings commented that he would use his MHF to fund a survey on traffic speeds in Felderland Lane.

RESOLVED:   That it be recommended that the proposed prohibition of turning movements in Felderland Lane, Worth not be implemented.