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.”
by John, Dublin,Ireland
Friday, March 05 2010, 10:51AM
“Thanks Anon no 15.To the other Person ,we have the same problem perhaps not as bad. I have some Friends in Kent and as a possible Tourist I mostly go to a Country to see the Art Culture and Beautiful Scenery. I do not go to see Tonnes of Cars shooting by and those Horrible Car Parks,it puts me off visiting the Place. I have been in various Cities in different Countries that Cars were Banned and it was marvellous,you could Breathe in the Air and take your Pictures without a Car blocking the view. The fact of there being no Cars did not hinder the Commerce of the Cities everything went on as normal. There were Crowds in the Streets ,all the Restaurants were full and also the Shops. People traveled by Tram or the Bicycle for the most part.
Britain is too Car Centric,they are always Pandering to the Motorist and when someone tries to change things for the better it is shot down.
As I said Profit before People,the Traffic must be maintained at all costs. Except that the more Road widening and Car Parks they put in the more Demand for more Widening. It eventually Cancels everything out. Solution cut down on the Motor Traffic ,lessen their Impact on the Environment,Make Bike not Car.”
by Anon, Tonbridge
Friday, March 05 2010, 8:06AM
“To Anon, the internet is global so it is available for everyone to comment. It is not a small 'fishbowl' anymore.
People all round the world have this problem of ever increasing car parking lots. It is a bit narrow minded thinking no one else cares about other places.
What would happen if people put their heads in the sand and and ignored stuff about South Africa'?
Also it is good to hear from people round the world anyway and get different opinions and attitudes, and perhaps find ways of dealing with this matter. Some residents estates overseas are car free.. and they can cope. And they can be very attractive.
Maybe Ms Dagger could learn to get out of this fishbowl and find out better ways of dealing with this instead of endless expensive car parks.”
by anon, Kent
Thursday, March 04 2010, 10:47PM
“Thanks John but your in the wrong country.We are talking about Hildenborough not Ireland.”
by John, Dublin,Ireland
Thursday, March 04 2010, 10:33PM
“Tories Destroying the Countryside,Profit before People.
Quality of Life Destroyed under a pile of Concrete.
Take Paradise and put up a Parking Lot.”
by Anon, Tonbridge
Thursday, March 04 2010, 8:46PM
“Alternatively the village could make the whole sportsground into a ,massive car park like Tesco.
Playing fields are regularly being destroyed by the Tories. To them, it just looks like a great place for a car park or shopping mall.
The grass verge would regularly be full with cars and then they'd want another car park. It never ends. The country would look as ugly as Noble Tree Road and Eggpie Lane is with the cars. Make them fork out for permits and give disabled people space. They choose to have several cars to clutter up the road. This Grandad of 3 could have 4 cars outside his house, in theory - if they all have cars. They could start car sharing and be less of a nuisance to their neighbours.”