The speed limit on roads across Larkfield will soon be reduced to 20mph after councillors approved a scheme designed to make village roads safer.

On Monday Kent County Council and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Councillors on the Joint Transportation Board met virtually and gave the green light to a consultation which opened to discuss the move and combat speeding.

Residents voted by almost three to one in favour of the scheme with road safety, noise, pollution and fear of speeding traffic given as the main reasons they supported the lower speed limit.

Objectors were mainly concerned about the effect of humps and chicanes on main roads, and so these will have to be consulted on before they are used.

Signs and road markings will be installed as soon as May using funding from County Councillor Trudy Dean’s Community Fund.

While exact details of the roads included are still being drawn up, Cllr Dean is hopeful investment can be found to extend it to the whole parish affecting 4,000 homes.

Cllr Dean, who represents West Malling, East Malling and Larkfield said: “The most common complaint I receive in all three areas is speeding which is why I made the decision to push for these changes.

"It has taken a long time to get here, but I am pleased the consultation result was clear.

"Both Parish Councils, all Borough Councillors and also Tracey Crouch MP gave their support. I am particularly keen to make sure that the roads leading to the three primary schools and busy Martin Square with its shops, medical centre and library will be a safer, quieter and cleaner environment for children and adults."

The scheme will be the largest in the Borough outside Tonbridge.

Councillors are pressing Panattoni, developer of the former Aylesford Newsprint site, to contribute and help stretch funds so the reduced limit can cover a larger area, or even the whole of Larkfield.

Panattoni has already proposed green travel projects including new pavements, bus routes to Maidstone, and cycle transport, with bike hire and storage.

Cllr Dean added: "I've long been a supporter of 20mph schemes, I don't think they cut accidents in all places but I think people appreciate them because it makes the area quieter and people are not afraid of speeding. Air pollution goes down too.

"You can't have just one street being 20mph while the others are 30mph or 40mph. The sensible thing to do is have it for the whole of the community and that's what we want here. "

If reelected in May, the Lib Dem councillor hopes to introduce similar initiatives in East Malling, and expand the one already in place in West Malling.

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