Hildenborough road labelled "health and safety" hazard
A HILDENBOROUGH road has been labelled a "health and safety hazard" by residents who say it is too narrow for emergency vehicles.
The group of Riding Park residents are lobbying Kent County Council to provide more parking so space will be freed up and traffic can pass more easily.
Currently access through the road is becoming a squeeze because of the number of parked cars.
They are being backed in their campaign by Kent county councillor Valerie Dagger.
She said: "I think it's an excellent idea.
"I am supporting this very strongly."
The campaign was initially launched by 75-year-old resident Pat King, who was worried the parking chaos could lead to ambulances and fire engines getting held up on 999 calls.
The granddad-of-three said he had already seen dust carts getting stuck on the bend near his home, and has now sent a petition to Kent County Council asking officers to provide more parking.
Mr King, who has lived in Riding Park for more than 40 years, said: "If the fire engine cannot get by, that's valuable time lost and it may mean somebody's life.
"If they wanted to bring a big turntable ladder round, I don't think it would get by."
The retired water engineer has asked the council to take out a grass verge near the problem bend and replace it with hard standing, which he thinks could park up to 10 cars.
He does not think yellow lines would improve the situation, as they would just move cars into different roads.
He added: "If we can improve access on that bend it would solve several problems in one go.
"There's more and more vehicles on the road and parked – it's the times we live in."
Mrs Dagger, for Malling West, has signed the petition along with a dozen residents and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.
She will now submit the petition to the county council's highways department.
A county council spokesman said: "Kent Highways Services will consider the petition once it's received. If people put a petition in it's considered by officers who look at all aspects before considering what can be done."
20 Comments
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by Green Resident, Hildenborough
Sunday, March 14 2010, 8:06AM
“Andy from Dubai has a point. Too many untaxed cars there but clearly Ms Dagger wants to build a big car park for them and make us pay for it.”
by Andy, Dubai
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 7:32AM
“I lived in the village for 30 years until 3 years ago and I have a great deal of sympathy with the comment about untaxed and illegal cars in Riding Park. This is the main problem and they should be removed. Unfortunately it is out of the hands of the police and in the hands of the courts.”
by Green resident, Hildenborough
Monday, March 08 2010, 6:38PM
“To K H , I live in the village and am concerned about too many cars blocking the roads.
Residents should demand a better bus service.”
by KH, Tonbridge, Kent
Friday, March 05 2010, 10:26PM
“To John of Dublin:
Please remember that after you have had a nice visit as a tourist, the people that actually live there have to work and live. In choosing whether to drive or not, we have a lot more to consider than the enjoyment of your holiday.”
by anon, Hildenborough
Friday, March 05 2010, 5:21PM
“I'm all in favour of using the bus and bikes, and do both when I can, but the bus service is extremely limited, and cycling is suicidal on that road as it's terribly lit and cars go very fast down it. I cycle to the station, but my wife is too arthritic to do so. As the bus stops running at 19.51, the alternative is for her to walk all the way in the dark, alone.
We need a direct, dedicated cycle path across the fields from central hildenborough to the station and more buses, then I can dump the car, which I don't want to use anyway.”