Traffic Congestion Fears

One of the concept designs for the St John's Area

A consultation on a Tunbridge Wells Council initiative called “Better Streets” has just two more weeks before public feedback closes.

The council says the aim is to make the St John’s and St James’ areas more pleasant to live in  - and safer for walking and cycling.

But some residents say that blocking off certain routes to cars - like Powder Mill Lane and Queen's Road - will worsen congestion on the main roads.

In addition to the in-person meetings, an online survey is running until Monday 9th December.

The council has 2 concept designs for both the areas of St John's and St James'.

Two more in-person community engagements are taking place in Grosvenor and Hilbert Park in response to residents’ concerns.

The first community engagement is on Saturday 23rd November, from 11 am to 2 pm, while the second community engagement is on Tuesday 26th November, from 4 to 7 pm.

Planned changes include new footway and lighting improvements on Newlands Road, and a lorry ban on roads such as Ferndale.

Resident comments online have included the fact that the changes could increase traffic onto Pembury Road and neighbouring areas, the reduction of parking opportunities on certain roads such as King George V Hill, and the safety concern of reinstating the right turn from Sandrock Road onto Pembury Road.

Other concerns have been raised about the implementation of bus gates and modal filters on certain roads, such as Powder Mill Lane, which means only buses and authorised vehicles would be allowed onto those roads.

The council has said that no decision has been made and that they will listen to all feedback.

The project has been running since Summer 2023 with £50,000 granted from Active Travel England.

Various consultations and engagements have taken place with initial suggestions for changes, including poorly maintained pavements, safety concerns at junctions, and speeding vehicles.

The council declined an invitation to give an interview to West Kent Radio to explain the plans.

You can take part in the survey by clicking the link.

More from WEST KENT NEWS

  • Reform UK By-election Victories

    Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says his fledgling party is “going all out” to win seats at the currently Conservative-run Kent County Council next May.

  • Kent Farms "Threatened"

    Changes to inheritance tax rules announced in the autumn budget have sent shock waves through Kent’s farming community.

  • Christmas Joy To The Wells

    Christmas lights, decorations, a light show on the Opera House and a festive family trail look set to attract shoppers and visitors into Tunbridge Wells.

  • Gas Works Site

    A big new housing estate in Sevenoaks has been approved despite parts of it being likened to a cluster of boils.

  • Labour Ministers Step In

    A decision on whether to build a massive “new town” in the north Kent countryside has been taken out of local hands, signalling what could happen in the rest of Kent.

  • Pembury may get 99 new homes

    There's concern about traffic gridlock if a development at Hubbles Farm in Pembury goes ahead.

  • £20 million hotel investment

    Plans have been drawn up to turn the Groombridge Place moated manor house into a luxury hotel, restaurant and spa.

  • Glass Bottle Banks Vanish

    Audio

    Local residents and the UK glass industry have expressed regret over the recent removal of the recycling areas for bottles in the Tonbridge Sainsbury’s car park.

On Air Now Tim Godsalve 2:00pm - 6:00pm

COMING UP

  • Saturday Night

    6:00pm - Midnight

    Saturday Night

  • The Wind Down

    Midnight - 6:00am

    The Wind Down