Parish Highway Improvement Plan Press Release

New Romney Town Council would like to take this opportunity to update our residents with where we are at regarding our Parish Highway Improvement Plan.

On the 1st November 2023 New Romney Town Council had a meeting with Kent County Council regarding the outcome of 9 x traffic surveys and 1 pedestrian survey to cover Zones 1 & 2 of our Highway Improvement Plan.

All areas surveyed were deemed suitable for a 20MPH limit and Brissenden Close & Richmond Drive have also been added into the 20MPH zones.

There are concerns over the speeds in Cockreed Lane being too high to implement the 20MPH limit and other options are being investigated. It still may be possible to place a 20MPH speed limit, KCC will come back to us.

Kent County Council are going to send over an Extents Plan outlining our proposed changes – a public consultation to be held regarding this, dates to be confirmed.

Kent County Council confirmed that the new Church Approach one-way signage has been ordered. Works are likely to commence 11.01.2024. Road closures will be required to complete the works – we will notify residents of this nearer the time.

The white Lines for Ashford Road junction onto the High Street – request repaint submitted to Kent County Council via the Parish Portal under reference: 754211.

Just a reminder that we have received the 30 MPH toolkit from Kent County Council which consists of banners and stickers that residents are welcome to collect from the Town Hall to display at their properties or place the stickers on their bins to remind others of the speed limit within their roads/streets. These self-adhesive stickers/signs are a great way of raising awareness of speed limits in residential and built-up areas within our Parish and we would encourage all residents to use them on their bins/properties in a 30 MPH zone.

A not suitable for HGV vehicles signage has been ordered for Spitalfield Lane & Sussex Road.

One of the key areas of concern for residents highlighted during our 6 previous public consultations was congestion within the High Street caused by problem parking and bottle necks.

After discussions with both Kent County Council and Folkestone and Hythe District Council a plan has been developed to rearrange the parking within the High Street to allow for better free flow of traffic which will avoid congestion, by preventing parking on one side of the whole length of the High Street from The Ship Hotel to the Cinque Ports pub. Additional parking will be created on the opposite side of the High Street. The changes suggested will only lose 2 parking spaces in total to the High Street and gain an additional disabled parking bay. Please see the suggested changes via the New Romney Town Council’s website using this link:

http://www.newromney-tc.gov.uk/_UserFiles/Files/Parish%20Highway/High%20Street%20Parking%20Changes.pdf

The Highway Improvement Plan and all associated documents is now on New Romney Town Council’s Website. The Highway Improvement Plan document highlights New Romney Town Council’s identified priorities and KCC’s comments regarding actions that will be required to be undertaken by Kent County Council or New Romney Town Council to implement the Plan.

To view the Highway Improvement Plan for New Romney, please use this link:

http://www.newromney-tc.gov.uk/Parish_Highway_Improvement_Plan_41431.aspx

Thank you for your patience and understanding whilst New Romney Town Council together with Folkestone and Hythe District Council and Kent County Council work hard to get this plan implemented. We are keen to get changes made and make our roads safer for all.

Updates to the Highway Improvement Plan will be uploaded to the Town Council website to keep all informed and up to date on our progress.

New Romney Town Council would like to thank all those who contributed to the development of New Romney’s Parish Highway Improvement Plan with comments or suggestions. Your feedback has been invaluable and together we will make our local Highways safer.

To request any further details, please contact:

Mrs Catherine Newcombe

Town Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer

New Romney Town Council

Town Hall

High Street

New Romney

Kent

TN28 8BT

Email: town.clerk@newromney-tc.gov.uk

Tel: 01797 362348