Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 14 March 2012.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of the Sevenoaks Joint Transportation Board held on 14 March 2012 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

Resolved: that the actions from previous meetings be noted.

(S.106 related proposals)

Mr. J. Morrison from the Sevenoaks Cycling Forum addressed the Board strongly recommending the need for advanced stop lines and red boxes to make it safer for cyclists.  There was now a Cycling Strategy and the junction was right in the middle of the Sevenoaks/Otford route.  It would be a great opportunity to kick start the Cycling Strategy with simple low cost improvements.  He also spoke to Item 6 on the agenda (Minute 6) expressing the need for similar improvements and more joined up thinking.

Members were keen to see various options before them to be able to evaluate the issues concerning air quality, congestion and non motorised safety to achieve optimum operation of the junction.  Members generally agreed that the advance stop lines were a good idea and were keen to have the CCTV set up at the traffic signals as soon as possible.

Resolved: That

a)        Officers continue to explore environmental, driveability and non motorised improvement options within the terms of the Section 106 Agreement, and report back to the next meeting of the Board; and

b)        Officers proceed with the installation of CCTV cameras and UTC MOVA equipment at the Bat and Ball Junction, to enable remote monitoring     of traffic and temporary remote changing of traffic signal timings inresponse to traffic situations.

Members considered the updated results of the consultation and reconsidered the previous decisions made at the March Joint Transportation Board.

Mr. C. Dellow addressed the Board as a resident of Crown Road and on behalf of another resident, Mrs. A. Palmer,  who had also written to members of the Board before the meeting, expressing their concerns that the measures were needed for safety reasons and to protect the more vulnerable.   The Board was also addressed by Mrs. L. Spence on behalf of Shoreham Parish Council who challenged the collection and use of the statistics provided, that the figures collected by the Shoreham Society had not been included and urged the Board to abate introducing the measures.

An Officer advised that the information provided by the Shoreham Society had not been provided in time.  A County Member advised that there were a lot of sources of information and that he Shoreham Society’s information had been provided verbally at the last meeting,  there had also been a public meeting on this issue which gave members a good all round view. 

Resolved: That the decision taken at the last meeting of the Board on 14 March 2012 (Minute 26) be reaffirmed as follows -

a)     waiting restrictions at the junction of High Street and Crown Road to help  drivers entering the High Street from Crown Road see approaching traffic be approved;

b)     waiting restrictions at the junction of High Street with Mill Lane to ensure that buses terminating on route 431/432 have sufficient space to turn be rejected; and

c)     waiting restrictions at the bends on Church Street outside the Church to enable traffic to pass safely and to improve inter-visibility between drivers and pedestrians be rejected.

Officers explained that the report had been brought back to the Board to ensure Members were aware of the impact on congestion and air quality that would be caused by implementing the pedestrian phase.

Resolved: That Officers proceed with the implementation of a pedestrian phase/stage at the Pembroke Road/High Street/Suffolk Way Traffic Signal junction.

Members considered the report which detailed specific schemes that would be progressed, including the schemes carried over from the 2011/12 financial year and new ones identified as crash remedial schemes.

A Member asked about progress made with Chevening Road, Riverhead width restrictions and in light of the recent accident on Cold Arbor Road, whether the proposals would help.  The Chairman responded that there was a site meeting at Cold Arbor Road the next day, but that the accident had been at a different part of the road.  With regards to Chevening Road, residents had looked at the scheme and the Order had been published and works would go ahead provided there were no objections.  The District Manager (Sevenoaks) reported that the accident had taken place nearer the bridge in a 20 mph zone.

In response to a question concerning London Road, Swanley (Junction Improvements at Birchwood Road) the District Manager (Sevenoaks) advised that they were looking at widening the junction but this was more problematical due to the large number of utilities that would need relocating.  Therefore Officers were investigating whether it was feasible with the money available.  He agreed to speak to the local County Councillor outside of the meeting. 

Members expressed concern with regards to the speed limits at B2028 Marsh Green road Edenbridge.  The District Manager (Sevenoaks) explained that the Police were not prepared to enforce a lower limit along that stretch.  The Chairman recommended that the local District and County Councillors made representations to the local Superintendent.

Resolved:  That the progress of programmed highway improvements, be noted.

Members discussed the paper ‘Bold Steps for Aviation’  from Kent County Council which suggested how the UK’s aviation capacity needs could be met without the need to develop a new hub airport in the Thames Estuary.  County Members advised that there would be a meeting on 4 July 2012 at 3 pm, County Hall which all were welcome to attend.  The Head of Environmental and Operational Services advised the District Members that the paper would also be considered by the Environment Select Committee.  Comments could also be fed back individually to aviation@kent.gov.uk.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

*Minutes agreed at meeting held on 12 September 2012 subject to this amendment