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This is the letter from HELPERS, Harrietsham & Lenham's Residents Asociation

KCC Speed limit review A20 Harrietsham & Lenham ,Sites 4/5 & 6 A20

We are dismayed with the content of this report specifically the section which addresses the A20 covering the villages of Harrietsham and Lenham and what as residents we see as a wasted opportunity along this entire length of road. No mention in the report has been made to the unique situation of the length of the A20 between Junction 8 and junction 9 of the M20 which frequently act as a surrogate motorway for coast-bound traffic when Phase 2 of Operation Stack is in force. In some sense the same comment applies to the section of the A20 beyond Ashford when Phase 1 of Operation Stack is in force, that section too doubles as a motorway relief road during these occasions.

With regard to the Harrietsham phase of the report we know that a meeting was held with Mr Keith Ferrin in Harrietsham with representatives from residents, Harrietsham Primary school, Parish & Borough Council. Many issues of concern were brought to his and the officer’s attention including moving the speed limit further west of the village. Mr Ferrin & the officer discussed how this could be done and those present were given encouragement that he had listened:

it would seem from the recommendations of this report this was clearly not the case. It is our opinion that the speed limit must be reduced to 40mph from before the Holm Mill junction at the western end of the village. This would incorporate the many residents who use this road particularly those residents of the Garden of England. This is highlighted in the Parish plan and more recently in the PACT (Partners & Communities working Together) May's questionnaire. The proposal to move it further into the village, to the Hook Lane junction not incorporating the busy access to West Street is ridiculous and, in our opinion, a retrograde move. There has been no consideration for extending the 40 mph speed limit From Lenham, downhill on the very fast and dangerous stretch of road that often leaves traffic entering under the bridge doing above the speed limit.

Further west towards Lenham again an opportunity has been lost: no thought to reduce the limit past the very busy access into Ham Lane which serves Lenham Storage and the south end of Lenham Village; no consideration to reduce the speed at the Maidstone road junction and, perhaps the most criminal omission is to not take this opportunity to reduce the speed of traffic flowing past the almost blind-sighted junction at the Faversham Road. This is widely regarded locally as being extremely dangerous and the scene of many accidents. The opportunity to raise the safety levels at the area west past the industrial part of the village has also been missed which ought to include the blind-sighted entrance onto Ashford Road at the western junction.

We are astounded at this report. It bears no resemblance to any sensible thought process, and we feel let down by Jacobs hired by KCC to do this report, KCC officers and KCC Councillors. One of our members is requesting under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) a breakdown on the accident and incident statistics for this stretch of road, from Hollingbourne to Charing over the past 10years. We reject the reports recommendations and ask KCC Councillors to reject the report and to look seriously at carrying out a full and meaningful review including incorporating other speed reduction features and traffic speed control measures.

We urge residents to view the document and to respond accordingly to KCC. Contact us with your comments Comments page