'Absurd' HGV plan could lead to death
PROPOSALS to divert lorries through the northern part of Sevenoaks have been branded "absurd".
Andrew Smith, chairman of the Acorns Residents Association – which covers some of Sevenoaks' central residential roads, said a passerby could be killed if lorry traffic becomes worse on Pembroke Road.
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RIDICULOUS: Andrew Smith, of Acorn Residents' Association, thinks the proposal to divert heavy lorries down Pembroke Road could be dangerous TWPL20100824E-005_C
The ban planned for Sevenoaks would mean that lorries would be forced to use the A21, A25, M25 and M26, instead of cutting through the Upper High Street and High Street and London Road.
The new traffic law is classed as experimental, meaning it can be introduced without prior consultation.
But the A25 is not an option for some truckers, whose vehicles are too high to fit under the railway bridge on Maidstone Road.
Road bosses said lorry drivers not able to drive along Maidstone Road should instead use St John's Hill, Dartford Road, Pembroke Road, Tubs Hill and London Road, in both directions.
Mr Smith said: "I'm delighted that a ban will be put in place covering the Upper High Street but appalled at the suggestion that oversize juggernauts would use the Pembroke Road route.
"This is a totally hare-brained idea – has Nick Chard (cabinet member for Kent County Council's environment, highways and waste) ever seen large lorries trying to negotiate the London Road and Pembroke Road or the Pembroke Road and High Street turnings?
"They often cannot do it without climbing the pavements and or hitting the railings.
"Sooner or later a pedestrian on the pavement will be killed.
"The idea of the ban was to stop these huge lorries from entering Sevenoaks at all, not to send them on a tour of the residential streets at the north end of the town – the proposal is absurd."
The campaign launched last October, spearheaded by the Chronicle and Sevenoaks Society, aimed to safeguard Upper High Street pedestrians from huge trucks mounting the pavements and also preserve the road's historic buildings.
Mr Smith added his solution would be for lorries not able to get under the railway bridge to use the M25 and M20 route via the Swanley junction.
Cllr Chard said ways were being considered to solve the problem, including lowering the bridge.
He said: "There aren't many high-sided vehicles that can't use that bridge, but we are aware of a few."
Comments
by hedgehog, A25
Saturday, August 28 2010, 6:15PM
“Lucky Cllr Chard, living at the top of the town where lorries won't be allowed. Pavements on the Greatness stretch of the A25 are very narrow, traffic is rarely travelling at the 30mph limit (except when at a complete standstill) and we additionally have cyclists freewheeling down to the skatepark, adding to the danger. Please could we be included in a traffic-management scheme, a sensible one this time?”