Knockholt Station parking consultation sparks debate

NEW proposals to change car parking for rail commuters have sparked a debate among residents and drivers.

Sevenoaks District Council has released a final draft of arrangements near Knockholt Station, following complaints about cars parked in the area.

These include introducing more charges, double and single-yellow lines to prevent all -day parking, and restrictions by junctions to improve visibility.

John Taylor, of Badgers Mount, said: "Putting parking restrictions in will only push cars further out. Where I live is only a 12-minute walk away, and our cul-de-sac will just get clogged up with cars."

John Rayfield, of London Road, Knockholt, said: "Improving the current facilities would be a start, before making life more difficult."

Others called the proposals "excessive" and said the problems could be resolved with double-yellow lines near junctions.

Heather Lambert, who commutes to London from Knockholt, said: "Why cars should not continue to park sensibly in the road adjacent to the station remains unclear.

"There are no houses along the stretch and the road here is wide, so there is no obstruction to traffic."

District council spokesman Daniel Whitmarsh said: "At the end of last year, the council carried out an informal consultation with immediate residents and amended the plans to reflect their comments.

"The consultation on these proposals ends on March 7, so we would urge residents with comments to contact the Council before the deadline. The proposals can we viewed on www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/parking"