Sevenoaks set for new 20mph speed restrictions
The scheme is being undertaken by Kent County Council and funded by Sevenoaks Town Council with aims of improving road safety. Oliver Leader De Saxe reports
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00:00A sign of things to come.
00:0224-hour signs like this one are set to become a more common sight on the streets of Sevenoaks
00:07from next week as the rollout begins ahead of new speeding restrictions in October.
00:14This means new restrictions on residential streets, schools and even in the town centre.
00:19Funded by Sevenoaks Town Council, the scheme is being implemented by Kent County Council
00:25after years of consultation.
00:28Local representatives hope the restrictions will reduce collisions on the road
00:33and help the environment.
00:35The new 20 mile an hour scheme for Sevenoaks is going to make Sevenoaks safer,
00:38cleaner and greener. It's going to do that by reducing speeds across the town so there's much
00:42less likelihood of accidents. It's going to reduce fuel consumption and make the town
00:46more tranquil. It's going to improve accessibility to the town because the slower speeds give people
00:52more confidence to walk and to cycle. So for our ageing population it's going to be easier
00:56to cross the road and safer to cross the road and for our youngest population it's going to be
01:00safer to travel to school by means other than a car.
01:04While there are a handful of roads in the town centre that are excluded,
01:08the majority of Sevenoaks will see new restrictions,
01:13largely based on the number of traffic accidents that have occurred in the area.
01:17A survey conducted last year by the town council found 66% of almost 2,500 responses
01:26supported the 20 mile per hour limit in residential and school areas.
01:31But with a population of 22,000 in the town, we hit the streets of Sevenoaks to find out
01:37if those views were shared by passers-by on the high street.
01:41Yes, I think so. As long as it's observed,
01:45even if you're going to cross the road, they're going so fast. So I think it's a good idea.
01:52I don't agree with it being as widespread as they are because I commute into Sevenoaks every day
01:57and it's sometimes difficult to get in in time because of the traffic etc.
02:03Despite signs cropping up from the 12th of August, life in the slow lane won't begin in
02:09earnest until the 1st of October, when restrictions will be enforced. With months to go until then,
02:16residents have time to adjust to a different pace of life.
02:20Oliver, Leader of the Sats for KMTV in Sevenoaks.