PRESS RELEASE: Sevenoaks Town Council pleased to see success of its 20mph scheme in the Town
Published: 02 April 2026
Sevenoaks Town Council’s Planning & Environment Committee was delighted to see the monitoring reports prepared by Kent County Council, reporting predominantly of the success of the 20mph scheme funded via the Town Council’s developer receipts* in September 2024.
UK Government and Transport Research Laboratory evidence indicates that each 1 mph reduction in average speed is associated with around a 5% reduction in injury collisions (DfT, Setting Local Speed Limits), with even greater reductions in fatal and serious injuries because risk rises disproportionately and more severely as speed increases (UK Parliament / TRL evidence).
Published via the District Council’s Joint Transportation Board’s 17th March Agenda papers, the full scheme review (Appendix A to the summary report) confirmed the following positive outcomes:
- Speeds recorded in both post-scheme periods (2025 and 2026) were lower than those recorded pre-scheme at all locations where comparable data was available
- Decreased speeds at all monitored sites, with an average of 1.76mph reduction in mean speeds and 1.64mph reduction in 85th percentile speeds.
- For individual links, the range of mean speed reduction is between 0.01mph and 7.16mph
- 62% of the 283 analysed road links saw reduced mean speeds, with 61% of the 20mph roads analysed having seen a reduction in mean speed, and 64% of the 30mph roads analysed having seen a reduction in mean speed
- The data demonstrates a general trend where the pre-scheme roads with the highest recorded speeds achieved the greatest speed reductions post-scheme
The above-pictured plan (
Appendix D of the JTB report) shows the recorded mean speeds collected by Kent County Council from connected vehicle data for the roads
included in the 20mph scheme. It demonstrates that, while four of the analysed links (Dartford Road along the Vine, Seal Hollow Road, Pinewood Avenue and Ash Platt Road) may still need compliance aid, the majority of the scheme is successfully delivering the hoped-for improvements to both motorist and pedestrian safety.
Sevenoaks Town Council is keen to build upon the principal success of the 20mph scheme by further encouraging compliance – especially on the roads and nearby links which are not performing as well as hoped.
Small, non-physical alternative compliance aids such as movable chicane planters, advisory cycle lanes and formalised on-road parking can offer effective alternatives to harder engineering works such as speed bumps and permanent chicanes.
The Town Council is particularly invested in lobbying Kent County Council to reconsider its stance on 20mph Speed Indicator Devices, which it currently does not permit on 20mph roads. Speed Indicator Devices are an effective compliance aid and can be moved between multiple sites in order to maximise their usage as well as avoid becoming redundant due to “sign-blindness”. The Town Council has previously lobbied Kent County Council to reconsider its restrictive policy, citing their positive benefits, successful utilisation in surrounding counties, and availability in specialised 20mph-sensitive formats.
While the Planning & Environment Committee reported its
disappointment that the County Council continues to oppose 20mph Speed Indicator Devices, it remains committed to lobbying for a constructive review, and has requested so in its Highway Improvement Plan.
*Sevenoaks Town Council receives 25% of the Community Infrastructure Levy receipts collected by Sevenoaks District Council (as the Local Planning Authority) from developers of new housing within the Town. These are separate from residential tax income and to be spent solely on local infrastructure projects to serve the existing and future residents.
If you have any queries, please contact:
Georgie Elliston
planning@sevenoakstown.gov.uk
02/04/2026
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