Street lighting: the next phase

In a post late last year, I set out Kent County Council's "safe and sensible street lighting" policy, intended to deliver financial savings of £1 million per year and a reduction in carbon emissions. This started with the switching off of many streetlights between the hours of midnight and 5:30 AM, so-called "part-night lighting". This came into effect in the Sevenoaks area just before Christmas.

As I mentioned at that time, the second element of the policy was to embark on a trial full switch-off of some lights that are adjudged redundant and would not be newly installed under today's policies. During consultation, I asked for some of the proposals for the switch-off on roads in Darent Vally to be withdrawn and this was done. However, there will be some lights switched off in Darent Valley, notably on Main Road near Farningham and on Goldsel Road on the approach to Crockenhill. This will take place by the end of this month, though it will be on a trial basis.

"Part-night lighting" remains a cause for concern for some residents, notably in Swanley. I hope to meet a number of concerned residents in the near future. The policy will be reviewed in particular areas if there is evidence of a significant increase in crime or accidents that could plausibly be linked to the new policy. I understand from Kent Police that data will be available in a matter of weeks, and that it will be very detailed, going down to individual street level.

Swanley Village and the Member Highway Fund

Earlier this week I had the chance to meet and share updates with members of the Swanley Village Residents' Association committee. Among the issues we discussed were projects in the village that I have committed to supporting from my Member Highway Fund (now transforming into part of the Combined Members' Grant - but more of that at another time).

The first of these is equipment for the village Speedwatch project, which has funds allocated and is ready to go. Clearly committed volunteers are essential to making Sppeedwatch effective for the village, but in any case the kit will be there to support them.

The second is the installation of gateway signs at entry points to the village. These will comprise signs and red high friction surfacing at both the Wood Street and Highlands Hill entrances to the village. We are also looking to improve signage to deter HGVs from coming into the village, although there is still a little work to do to establish the best positions for these signs.

I am also committed to resolving the problems of the increasingly unsteady village sign at the top of School Lane, though this is proving more problematic. Kent Highways engineers have examined the sign and agreed that we must act to tackle what is an increasing safety problem. Some problems have, however, arisen in that the distinctive sign – which for many people is a symbol of the village – appears not to conform to regulations as to signs that can be placed on the highway (to be fair to Kent Highways, these are national regulations, not County rules). I will look for a solution to this conundrum - there has to be a sensible way forward.

Well Hill: what happened last week

Last week I posted an article (12 May) anticipating that pothole repairs would be carried out in Well Hill. A road closure was arranged for the section of the road south of the junction with Firmingers Road.

However, when Kent Highways staff started to close the road on Wednesday morning (14 May) they encountered considerable hostility from some drivers and ultimately withdrew from the scene. Quite apart from being shocking behaviour towards the staff, this has meant that the potholes - some of them very deep - remain.

I understand that a closure will be undertaken once more during the week commencing 2 June. This time it will be more comprehensive, covering the entire length of the road. There is considerable justification for this, since the deepest potholes are to the north of the Firmingers Road junction, though this will inevitably mean a much more extensive diversion. 

In the meantime, there will be interim patching of the potholes before the weekend.

Well Hill closure update

Further to my post last Thursday, Well Hill has indeed been closed today for pothole repairs. The details of how this will work are now rather clearer than they were at the end of last week.

The closure will be for today and tomorrow, between 0930 and 1530. It will only affect the road between the junction with Rock Hill and that with Firmingers Road, so the latter can serve as a diversion.

Some of the biggest potholes are in fact in the section heading north from the Firmingers Road junction towards Parkgate Road. However, Kent Highways have told me that they are able to work on this section without a closure, so this too should be completed today or tomorrow. It is possible that these latter works may need revisiting later in the year, but they should be good for some time.

Well Hill closed for pothole repairs on Monday

A couple of weeks ago, I reported to the AGM of the Well Hill Residents' Association. I didn't get to deliver the report in person because of long traffic delays on the M20 after the closure of the M26 as a result of a fatal accident. The report has, however, since been circulated to residents.

In this I stated that the potholes in Well Hill were due to be fixed in May. This would inevitably require a road closure. Kent Highways have now confirmed that the road will be closed next Monday, May 12, for the works to be carried out.

The email announcing this was a little unclear, since it is stated on the one side that the road would be closed in its entirety, yet also suggested Firmingers Road as a detour. I have raised a query about this and will update this post when I get clarification. The very worst potholes (picture) are in the section of the road between Firmingers Road and Parkgate Road, so it may be that the section closer to Rock Hill will be left open.