THE Chronicle campaign to drive trucks out of the town has reached a major milestone – only two weeks after it was launched.

More than 1,000 people have put their name to a petition to ban HGVs from the High Street and to get them to use the A21 (Sevenoaks bypass) instead.

Residents, traders and even visitors to the town have flocked into the Chronicle offices and to an online petition to show their support for the campaign, aimed at protecting Sevenoaks buildings, improving air quality in the town and making the streets safer.

The achievement has been welcomed by Sevenoaks Society, our partners in the campaign.

Society chairman David Gamble said: "I am very pleased – it shows how important it is to people in the area.

Desire

"We know there is a lot of strong local desire that this ban is put in place.

"Now we will put pressure on Kent County Council so that it does come into place."

Speaking of the size of the challenge, he said: "If it would have been easy to do it would have been done before."

Mr Gamble said the society would carry on collecting signatures until the end of the year, and on November 30 they will host a public meeting to provide an update on the campaign.

The results of a survey carried out by the road authority Kent Highway Services are expected in mid-November.

Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon said the number of signatures collected was "amazing".

He added: "I would say that's the fastest growing campaign ever.

"It shows the strength of feeling on the issue.

"I hope the highways authority and Kent County Council will now listen to public opinion."

To sign the petition visit www.thisiskent.co.uk/lorriescampaign or call into the Chronicle office at 54 High Street.

Who's backing the ban? (Vox pops – pics with all these)

Karen Meeson, of The Crescent, Sevenoaks, said: "Most of the buildings (on the High Street) are supposed to be historic, but not for much longer if the lorries keep going through.

"These lorries are getting bigger and bigger."

Ron Avery, of Sevenoaks, added: "The town is not built for large lorries – they shouldn't be allowed in the town and I absolutely could not agree more with the campaign."

Eveline Astie, of Otford Road, Sevenoaks, said: "They should use the Sevenoaks bypass."

Jack Porter, 15, from Tonbridge, said: "I think the lorries should be using bigger roads."

James Nicholls, of Robertsbridge, said: "I have been in numerous traffic jams when lorries have tried to turn around in the narrow road. Something definitely needs to be done about HGVs."

Linda Purcell, from Dartford, said: "We come and visit here quite a bit. We have often said how noisy it is with these lovely buildings on the road. There is a lot of traffic going through the town."

Adrian Jewitt, from Ealing, said: "It's an old town and it's not built for 44 footers."

Andrew Sparey, of Brixton, said: "I have been stuck in traffic jams at the top of the high street because of HGVs and I definitely think the campaign is a good idea."