Sevenoaks Town Council commissions parking and beat survey for St John's area

Published: 25 July 2024

On Monday 22nd July 2024, Sevenoaks Town Council’s Finance & Delivery Committee resolved to commission a parking and beat survey to be conducted on various roads within the St John’s area (see map below). The purpose of this is to investigate potential solutions to the strained parking situation experienced in St John’s, with residents often unable to park close to their homes, as well as cars blocking driveways and partially parking on the pavement, hindering pedestrian access.

 

The parking survey will map existing parking restrictions and where both on-street and off-street parking is, as well as engaging with Sevenoaks Primary School, Kent County Council (the Highway Authority) and Sevenoaks District Council (owners of the two car parks and responsible for parking enforcement) to understand any concerns, aspirations and recommendations for parking in the area. Analysis will be made of where parking pressures are the greatest and the likely reason for this, in order to inform potential parking control strategies to reduce the strain on residential parking.

The beat survey will record where and for how long vehicles park on the roads within the study area as well as the two car parks between 6pm and 9pm on a neutral weekday (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday). A further beat survey will be conducted for the two car parks on a Saturday, which will help to understand the volume of commuters who may be using these residential roads and how this could be discouraged via short parking restrictions during the day.

In addition to looking at ways to reduce the impact on local residents, the surveys will inform the St John’s area Masterplan. This is being created by the same consultants as the parking surveys. The purpose of the Masterplans is to map potential future development and ways that the space in St Johns as well as the Town Centre area can be best utilised for the benefit of the community. The benefit of conducting a parking and beat survey at this stage is that the St John’s Masterplan can incorporate the suggestions and take into account any impact of potential future development.

If you have any queries, please contact:

Georgie Elliston

planning@sevenoakstown.gov.uk

25/07/2024