Report of the Parish Council July 2022
Cllr Tyrone Ripley (Chairman), Cllr Pam Denny (Vice Chairman), Cllr Ernie Berntsen, Cllr Helen Boakes, Cllr John Bodycomb, Cllr Alan Horton, Cllr Gerry Lewin, Cllr Gary Rosewell and Cllr Neil Sheppard. Clerk Mrs Wendy Licence.
Parish Highways Improvement Plan Update
Following the Parish Highways Improvement Plan consultation in 2019, the following objectives and priorities have been worked on by the Parish Council with support from both Swale Borough Council and KCC Highways where appropriate.
The Parish Council has painted 30 mph roundels and SLOW signs in Horsham Lane and anecdotal feedback from residents was that it had made a difference; following that success SLOW signs were painted either side of Crosier Court and further feedback was that had improved matters further. Speed checks were not carried out in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic and the combination of lockdowns and home working would not have given a true comparison. A 20mph zone would take two to three years minimum to achieve, it had taken Newington seven years to secure theirs. If supported by residents, the Parish Council would have to fund the scheme as there were not accident statistics to justify it as was the case in Newington. The point was made that most often speed checks have found that it is people from the village who are most often exceeding the limit and whilst it was not a pleasant message it was clear that residents must take responsibility and lead by example.
The number one priority on the Parish Highways Improvement Plan was the Oak Lane narrowing just north of the junction with Wallbridge Lane - a chicane and priority signs are to be installed by the developer of 116 Oak Lane. Priority will be for those leaving the village. While waiting for this work to be carried out, the Council has installed roundels and SLOW signs in Horsham Lane, Forge Lane and Oak Lane, they have been painted on the road twice. The chicanes in Oak Lane are expected to have a significant impact on Oak Lane, in particular as vehicles entering the village will give way to those leaving.
Oak Lane junction with A2 – Residents expressed concern that vehicles from Sittingbourne when seeing a queue into Rainham make a quick decision to turn into Oak Lane, often cutting the corner, and across the front of vehicles waiting to exit Oak Lane. This is a KCC Highways issue, and with little crash statistics to justify costs, the cost, which would be significant given it is a primary route junction would fall to the Parish, that said, the Council may wish to pursue this.
Residents have repeatedly expressed concern regarding speeding vehicles in Horsham Lane, both into and leaving the village. 30mph speed - roundels have been painted and a speed survey carried out (2019) found the vehicles to be within normal tolerances for a 30mph limit but would exceed the tolerances for a 20mph limit without physical mitigations being installed. The roundels were repainted in 2021 and SLOW painted on the carriageway to reinforce the message, the most recent additions being either side of the Crosier Court junction.
Vehicles parking in The Street opposite Horsham Lane - this means vehicles travelling from Lower Halstow toward the Lower Rainham Road often are forced around parked vehicles onto the wrong side of the road, and from there sweep into Horsham Lane across the front of vehicles waiting to turn right. A plan has been submitted to restrict parking outside the terrace houses and to allow them appropriate parking to remove the island by The Crown for and create a dedicated residents area for those houses. It is an expensive project and there are no accident statistics to justify the changes. Swale Borough Council and KCC Highways have visited the site with Cllr Horton to assess options including if a ghost island could be justified there but again it is very expensive with no statistics to support the costs.
Vehicles entering the village from Lower Halstow are controlled by a pair of speed cushions either side of the school. The ownership of the streetlamp over the speed cushion at the end of Church Farm Road is disputed with KCC Highways, this has been long running and remains unresolved.
A traffic survey in Horsham Lane has been planned but then at KCC’s recommendation postponed until after the works in Oak Lane are completed.
The Parish Council has agreed to undertake a simultaneous traffic speed survey and Ward Members Richard Palmer and Alan Horton have agreed to contribute to the cost through their Swale Borough Council Member Grant Scheme.
The Parish Council has engaged with the school to enforce parking, the school staggered start times during Covid significantly which mitigated the problem. A walking bus to school has been explored. It is not the school‘s responsibility to keep the road clear, although the Parish Council acknowledges the significant work the Head and staff put in to do so. He made the point that it is often thoughtless drivers who park inconsiderately that cause the congestion.
Church Farm Road junction with Chaffes Lane - At the Forge Lane end of Church Farm Road is a speed cushion and corner protection provided by wooden posts, following feedback from residents the Parish Council requested posts at the Chaffes Lane end of Church Farm Road to protect that junction in a similar way and also remove parked cars from the apex of the ‘blind bend’ in Chaffes Lane and make it safer. KCC Highways has approved the work, this was delayed due to Covid, and staff changes within the Highways team. It has been agreed to install three sets of posts, two at the corners of the junction and the third at the apex of the bend. KCC Highways has agreed to fund the work, and to support those measures, the Parish Council has to keep the hedge at The Paddock cut back and the houses on the corner must do the same. There will be advance warning signs of the bend and SLOW signs to slow down the traffic.
Kent Terrace/Woods Edge Canterbury Lane - The plans for the Four Gun Field development clearly showed a ramp from Kent Terrace, however steps were installed. After lobbying, a ramp with handrails has now been installed. A bin for the play area at this site is being arranged.
Holywell Lane - The verges are overgrown and pedestrians are forced to walk in the road. This is a KCC Highways and local landowner issue not a Parish Council issue. KCC Highways has a maintenance scheme.
The most recent resident concern is speeding in The Street and northward past the houses to Poot Lane and Wetham Green – The roads outside the built-up area of the village are country lanes where the national speed limit applies (60mph). There are few accidents and they are not serious enough to support a reduction of speed. The PCSO has suggested that Poot Lane could become a designated Quiet Lane, however, it may be that the road (given it is a loop) is too busy to be considered. The accepted standard for a quiet lane is clear:
Quiet Lanes are nationally recognised designations of single-track road where visitors and locals can enjoy the natural surroundings and use them for activities such as cycling, horse-riding, jogging and walking.
Quiet Lanes are usually obvious and often have two-wheel tracks either side of a grassy/mossy ridge where vehicles do not disturb the centre of the road, in his opinion whilst it would be a benefit Poot Lane and the route around Wetham Green clearly does not qualify.
The PCSO has tried to carry out speed checks in The Street but was unable to do so because of parked cars.
Residents at the meeting sought views on the implementation of a 20mph zone for the village. There would need to be an informal consultation, however the 2019 Parish Highways Improvement Plan consultation did not show support for the idea. A speed survey is required and if there is public support the Parish Council can then apply to KCC Highways to see if a 20mph zone can be achieved without mitigation, such as speed bumps or chicanes. Should mitigations be required there is then often resident objections as they do not want cars and busses riding the bumps outside their home day and night. The current trend nationally appears to be moving away from schemes that require mitigations as they appear to increase pollution with cars braking hard and accelerating away. Once a scheme has been designed a formal consultation is then conducted by KCC Highways, which can produce significant objections, then a traffic regulation order is drawn up and the scheme installed. It is highly unlikely the scheme and any mitigation measures would be paid for by KCC Highways as there does not appear to be accident statistic justification for the change.
A resident raised concern about the sight line and need to walk into the road to go around a house in Horsham Lane opposite the end of the churchyard. The Parish Council will seek a reduction in the hedge height and a cut back with the house owner and agreed that it would be appropriate to support the work from Parish Funds once only to establish the correct line, after which it was hoped the residents would keep the area cut back for the benefit of all.
Planning
Ref: 22/502002/FULL Address: 81 Forge Lane Upchurch Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7AD
Proposal: Alteration and erection of a rear and side single storey extensions to existing outbuilding to provide 2no. lodges to be used as Bed and Breakfast.
Councillors agreed to support the application providing there is sufficient parking for residents.
Ref: 22/502282/FULL Address: Land North Of Horsham Lane Upchurch Kent ME9 7AP
Proposal: Demolition of existing outbuilding and erection of new building with a primary use as a flower school and additional use as a multi-purpose space for hire/the community together with associated access, parking and landscaping.
Councillors agreed to support the application.
iv) Ref: 22/502411/FULL Address: Breach Farm Cottage Breach Lane Upchurch ME9 7PE
Proposal: Erection of a part two storey, part single storey rear extension. Removal of garage door and replace with window, and changes to fenestration.
Councillors agreed to support the application subject to the views of neighbours being taken into account.
Environment
The Council is still waiting to receive a quotation from Swale Borough Council for the cost of installing two litter bins.
The notice board by the Co-op is to be relocated near the bus stop to make it more accessible for residents.
A contractor has been instructed to cut back the hedge in Chaffes Lane by The Paddock as a matter of urgency.
This is a precis of the meeting held on 7th July, full minutes of all meetings can be found on the website when ratified.
Date of next meetings:
The Planning Committee and General Purposes Committee - Wednesday 17th August at 7:30pm in the Small Hall of the Village Hall.
Full Council - Thursday 1st September at 7:30pm in Upchurch Village Hall.
All residents are welcome to attend the meetings and there is a time for members of the public to comment, raise concerns or ask questions.
To help keep loved ones safe, please DO NOT attend the meeting if you have COVID or have symptoms. Questions and comments can be sent to the Clerk to be raised at the meeting.
Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council
