The 20mph scheme encourages safer roads for school children and includes the following schools within the scheme, as well as various vulnerable locations including the Adult Education Centre, multiple care homes, “Hole in the Wall” access to Knole Park and the Hospital:
- Lady Boswell’s Primary School
- Trinity School
- Weald of Kent Grammar School and Tunbridge Wells Boys Grammar School
- St Thomas Primary School and Pre School
- Sevenoaks Primary School and Pre School and Acorns Nursery
- Walthamstow Hall Junior School and Secondary School
- Oakley Nursery and Pre School
- The Children’s Workshop
This also includes:
- The upper High Street close to Sevenoaks School
- St Johns Primary and Granville School which were in the initial 20mph zones
- The approaches to Knole Academy through Bradbourne Lakes Area
The scheme has been funded fully from Community Infrastructure Levy contributions paid to the Town Council from developers.
For more information please consult the following links:
Questions & Answers for 20mph scheme
Why are you doing it?
KCC states: “A pedestrian is five times more likely to die if hit at 30mph rather than 20 mph.” Sevenoaks Town Council believes that 20mph limits are a valuable investment in community safety as well as encouraging active travel and reducing climate impact.
KCC’s Vision Zero documents states: “Each death and life changing injury on Kent's Highways is a personal tragedy and that is why we have a target of zero deaths.
Serious injuries also have very high social costs. 24-hour home care can cost up to £2,000 per week. Other costs include clearing the scene, emergency services and resulting congestion. The Department for Transport estimates the average value of prevention of each reported casualty, which estimates a value for all human and public costs as follows: Fatal: £1.9 million Serious: £220,000 Slight: £17,000
In 2019 Kent's combined prevention value of all collisions was over £263m, including over £70m for fatalities and over £143m for serious injuries.
Will it include traffic calming measures (speed bumps)?
No. This is a signage-only scheme.
Costs? How is the scheme being funded?
The estimate for a signage-only Scheme in Sevenoaks is £153,456 for 20mph with a further £25,000 for the installation of a zebra crossing on Dartford Road, funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) paid for by developers.The Signage-Only Scheme is significantly less costly than physical traffic calming measures.
Will this make my Council Tax go up?
No. This uses existing CIL funds, none of which have come from Council Tax payments.
Which key roads are not included?
St Botolph's Road, Hitchen Hatch Lane, Mount Harry Road, Northern section of the A225 from the Vine to Bat & Ball Junction, A224 Tubbs Hill, part of London Road (to the Junction of Pembroke Road), and part of Seal Hollow Road.
How will it be enforced?
20mph is enforceable in the same way as any other speed limit.