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A mother who started a petition asking a council to scrap plans to close a railway bridge to traffic says the diversion route will cause so much congestion, it could 'lead to a child being killed'.
The petition started by Anja Ennis from Paddock Wood has been backed by more than 1,100 who have raised concerns about the plans for the bridge in Maidstone Road.
Phil Wellbrook from KMTV chats to Anja Ennis
It comes after Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) launched a consultation detailing proposals under the Local Plan to remove vehicle access on the road, except for buses, as part of a wider scheme to get more people cycling and walking.
Mrs Ennis feels closing the busy bridge, which is the only vehicle access over the railway line, will lead to gridlock in the village and surrounding areas.
The 42-year-old, who lives in Maidstone Road, said: "They want to make Paddock Wood into a low traffic town which is brilliant if you can cycle and walk, but not all of us can.
"My mother and my daughter are disabled. I live on the same road as my mum but the railway bridge is between us so closing it is going to make it ridiculously difficult for me to get to my mother in an emergency.
"It’ll take about 15 minutes because it will create a massive diversion.
"It’s not just us in Paddock Wood signing the petition, it's also those in East Peckham, Yalding and Laddingford because lots of people come into the village to shop.
"All the traffic will be funnelled past Mascalls School and when you have all the children coming out at 3pm alongside all the traffic, it's going to lead to a child being killed.
"The proposed building of 3,500 new houses will add to congestion in the area and cause more traffic as they are being built next to the proposed diversion route."
The current five minute journey Mrs Ennis takes to get her daughter to nursery in St Andrews Road will increase to 15 minutes from 1.4 miles to 5.2 miles on the new route.
Conservative councillor for Paddock Wood West, Matt Bailey said the plan is still at the ideas stage, and it is important to remember there is no intention to restrict traffic on the bridge now, or while the town centre is in its current configuration.
He added: "TWBC is working on a long-term plan to improve Paddock Wood town centre using financial contributions from developers.
"The plan aims to make the centre more accessible to pedestrians and to create a more pleasant, low-traffic environment.
"A consultant has brought forward some early ideas, including a proposal to restrict traffic across the railway bridge.
"Paddock Wood's borough councillors raised concerns about this idea but we were informed that it should be viewed in the context of the wider plans including changes to traffic flows to reduce the need for cars to travel through the town centre or across the railway bridge.
"Any significant changes to Paddock Wood town centre will only be made in consultation with Paddock Wood Town Council and after extensive consultation with residents."
Mrs Ennis said while she appreciates the plans are not immediate and would be part of a bigger scheme, it could still leave people unable to walk long distances cut off.
A spokesperson for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said: "The context here is important; the council is currently consulting on its Pre-Submission Local Plan which proposes a transformational expansion of Paddock Wood, including land at east Capel.
"One of the key elements associated with such an expansion is: “integrated, forward looking, and accessible transport options that support economic prosperity and wellbeing for residents.
"This should include promotion of public transport, walking, and cycling so that settlements are easy to navigate, and facilitate simple and sustainable access to jobs, education, and services.
"Studies were undertaken as part of the work to inform the Pre-Submission Local Plan and these identified that a bus gate over the Maidstone Road may, as part of a package of other transport improvements, be a suitable approach to allow an electric hopper bus to safely and conveniently link the various parts of the town to the town centre, together with safe and attractive walking and cycling links.
"These, and other proposals are far from agreed decisions and certainly not immediate. They are dependent on the outcome of the Local Plan and in the event of the Plan being adopted by the council all options to deliver an integrated, forward looking and accessible transport strategy for the town will be considered."
The consultation closes on Friday, June 4.
