News

Kent County Council (KCC) is being challenged to introduce a 20mph countywide speed limit for all residential areas.

Dr Hazel Dawe, Chair of Kent Green Party, has called on KCC's leadership to show their commitment to a sustainable transport system in Green Transport Week, which runs from 13-20 June 2009 by amongst other measures, reducing speed limits.

A reduction of 10mph to 20mph in residential areas could go some way to improve road safety in Hawkinge.

Dr Dawe said: "KCC can show its commitment to sustainable transport in Green Transport Week by taking up new policies. These should include: a 20 mph limit in all residential areas; an end to major road building; creating proper cycling and walking networks; far better bus services in rural areas; no new Thames crossing; no lorry parks particularly not on green field sites - only measures to push freight on to rail, canals and short-distance shipping.

"Measures like these would be consistent with David Cameron's repeated claims of concern about climate change. But where do the County's Conservatives stand?

Green rhetoric is easy, but where are the policies needed to create sustainable transport in Kent? We have not seen them from KCC so far."

As well as the 'green' issues, road safety in the village is an important concern which a 20mph speed limit could address.

Although a small number of residential areas aleady have a 20mph limit, Hawkinge has a 30mph speed limit through the village along Canterbury Road - much of which is residential, and a 40mph limit, also through the village close to The Churchill School on Spitfire Way.

Schoolchildren and parents need to use the pedestrian controlled crossings, often when traffic is at its heaviest.

In September 2002 Shepway Council's planning committee voted against a motion for a footbridge or tunnel across Spitfire Way put forward by Cllr Colin Tearle, but it was lost by just one vote.