Fears that Taylor Wimpey’s 20mph limit will increase speeds on other roads in Barming

Residents fear that a developer’s plans to implement a 20mph speed limit on access roads to its new estate will actually increase the speed limit on neighbouring roads.

Taylor Wimpey is shortly to begin work on its Peafields development of 181 new homes off Oakapple Lane in Barming.

It was granted planning permission back in July 2021, but one of the many conditions imposed was that it should apply to KCC for a Traffc Regulation Order (TRO) to reduce the speed on the approach roads to its development from 30mph to 20mph.

It has made that application, but only on Fullingpits Avenue, Broke Wood Way and Bridle Way – the main access to the site from Hermitage Lane, and on a small section of road linking in with Broomshaw Road, which will form a secondary access.

All the small roads off the access route are not covered.

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Cllr Peter Holmes (Con) said: “This is ridiculous. The other local developments – Bovis at Orchard Field and Taylor Wimpey at Oakapple Place – were designed to be 20mph zones, using a mix of road humps, carrageway narrowings, tight corners and other mitigation measures, but now motorists will be encouraged to do 30mph on these roads.”

His concern arises from the fact that TRO regulations require 20mph zones to be marked not only with a 20mph sign at the entrance, but also with a return to 30mph at the end of the zone.

So Cllr Holmes fears that a host of smaller side roads will now be posted at 30mph, even when 30mph could be a completely inappropriate speed.

Cllr Holmes said: “Spicketts Way is a prime example – nobody could safely do 30mph down there, but that’s what it will be signposted.

“Residents are very concerned.”

He said: “This proposal is not fit for purpose and will endanger the lives of residents and children by increasing the speed of subsidiary roads from 20mph to 30mph.

“This is not working to the Kent Design Guide or Department for Transport Manual for Streets, where all roads on new developments should be designed and constructed to be 20mph by default.”

“All the roads on Orchard Fields, Oak Apple Place and on Peafields when it is built should be 20mph.”

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As it stands, the outcome of the TRO will signpost the following roads as 30mph: Kennel Wood Road, Oaken Wood Drive, Spicketts Way, The Stirrups, Knoxes Shaw, Little Knoxes Shaw, Longsole Way, St Lawrence Drive, Fynamour Close, Covert Way, Keepers Avenue.

Broomshaw Road will be 30mph for most of its length and 20mph for a small section.

David Bradley, senior transport manager for Taylor Wimpey, said the roads the company had applied for covered the extent of the roads that the company was required to include under the conditions of the planing application.

The firm said: “We understand the concerns about the speed limit on the roads in and around the Peafields development.

“While the current speed limit on all roads off the main route into development is 30mph, all roads have been designed to encourage a speed limit of 20mph.”

Kent Highways was approached for comment, but said the planning condition was a matter for Maidstone Borough Council.