More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A one-way traffic system and a 20mph speed limit will likely be introduced in Sevenoaks town centre when high street lockdown measures are eased later this month.
Several Kent council authorities have been actively discussing a range of options to revive the Sevenoaks town centre economy in a "safe way" while maintaining the social-distancing rules laid down by government.
The latest proposal, co-ordinated by Kent County Council (KCC) and backed by Sevenoaks councillors, is expected to see a one-way traffic zone created in the High Street and London Road while pedestrian corridors are also widened.
The Mayor of Sevenoaks, Cllr Nick Busvine (Con), who chaired an extraordinary meeting of the town council on Friday night, said: "We have made a conscientious effort to find out how to emerge from this calamitous situation in the safest and most effective way possible."
A total of 12 members of Sevenoaks Town Council unanimously voted in favour of the proposed solution, which would also see an increase in the number of pedestrian crossing points around the town centre and cut speed limits to 20mph. A similar plan is being considered in Ashford to get more people walking and cycling.
Another option that had been considered was a one-way pedestrian system in the High Street, but that faced a huge backlash from businesses and residents last week over the "workability" and "practicality" of such a proposal.
Sevenoaks Liberal Democrat councillor Tony Clayton told the district council's cabinet, headed by Cllr Peter Fleming (Con), that the idea of a one-way pedestrian system was met with "horror" from town centre officials.
On Thursday night during a virtual public meeting, he said: "If a one-way pedestrian system is in place when the restaurants and cafes open, which I assume will be two or three weeks after the shops, they will cause serious harm."
Instead, a one-way traffic system is believed to be the preferred option of KCC's highways team, who would be responsible for funding and implementing the temporary scheme.
It would likely be funded from an £8million Department for Transport grant which KCC received last week. The cash pot is being used to invest in walking and cycling schemes across the 12 districts.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that Sevenoaks District Council have indicated they are "perfectly comfortable" with KCC's highways proposal.
Cllr Busvine added: "It is crucial to make sure that we have in place temporary measures when restrictions are eased around non-essential shops and to be sensitive to the feedback from businesses and people using the high street."
Sevenoaks council chiefs have also pledged to keep free parking in place in Sevenoaks town centre until at least June 23. They also aim to maintain a "street cleansing" regime as dozens of shops prepare to re-open on June 15.
This comes amid a potential influx of shoppers, Sevenoaks councillors said that 1,800 students at Sevenoaks School and Walthamstow Hall are unlikely to return to their studies until September and believe they could be tempted to visit the town centre more often, making it busier than usual in June.
