News_A274

A274 Action Group

HGV's in rural Kent

'This is a subject dear to my heart, having just returned from Germany, where any heavy goods vehicles seem to be banned from minor roads, I followed a massive Polish truck from Tovil right through to Yalding, he was obviously completely lost.
I have recently seen an article in the local paper stating that HGVs entering the UK will be issued with a special mirror adapter free of charge, surely it would be sensible to also include the HGV Recommended Route map at the same time. A 7.5 Tonne weight limit on Yalding's bridges clearly stated on the map would eliminate the problem overnight, as was proven when Yalding Town bridge was closed for repairs.'

Mike Newman (Yalding PC), 01.01.08

Keith Ferrin visits Langley

On Tuesday morning, 18.9.2007, Keith Ferrin (Cabinet member of Kent County Council) visited the Parish of Langley. He was welcomed by Parish Councillors David Davies, Tony Haylor, Hans Dieter Reichert, Cllr Paulina Stockell and Peter Lampard (Chairman of the Langley A274 Group). The purpose of the site meeting was to introduce Keith Ferrin to the various Highway and Environmental problems the village faces. After walking along the A274 (from the Parish Church towards the Pub 'The Plough'), the group visited other traffic problem areas in the village and Langley Heath (see pdf's below).
The site meeting lasted for about an hour and finished with a brief discussion where various thoughts were aired (ie. double line along the A274, or a possible zebra crossing on level with the Church/Nursery). Mr Ferrin appreciated the concerns of the parish and will suggest a number of viable solutions.

Text Variable Message Signs (VMS)

Within the next few months, implementation of the second phase of the Maidstone Area Variable Message Signs project should begin. A copy of Kent Highway Services Drawing No. B0315900/S/MVMSL is attached. This shows all the planned, and currently installed VMS for the Maidstone area, comprising Inner, Outer and Network cordon of signs.
   In addition to the signs already in operation, this second phase will consist of 12 signs, installed on routes to and from Maidstone; the sign locations are included as follows:-

VMS 4 – A20 Ashford Road, west of Willington Street

VMS 5 – A20 Ashford Road, east of Turkey Mill

VMS 6 – A229 Loose Road, at the Wheatsheaf

VMS 7 – A229 College Road, south of College Avenue

VMS 8 – A20 Rocky Hill, west of Terrace Road

VMS 9 – A26 Tonbridge Road, west of Fountain Lane

VMS 10 – A26 Tonbridge Road, west of Queens Road

VMS 15 – Forstal Road, west of entrance to Cobtree Manor Park

VMS 17 – A229 Royal Engineers Road, Springfield

VMS 20 – A20 Ashford Road, outside the Great Danes

VMS 22 – A274 Maidstone Road, south of B2163 at Langley

VMS 23 – A229 Linton Hill, south of Linton Crossroads

These signs will be installed under contract to Kent Highway Services. The Highways Agency will be installing the remainder of the VMS, detailed in the drawing under the heading ‘HA Kent Cordon’ later this year.
   Additional traffic monitoring CCTV cameras will also be installed in Maidstone this year. I will write again when I have the exact locations.
   If you require any further information regarding this project please do not hesitate to contact me.

Andrew Usher
Principal Engineer Traffic Systems
Jacobs UK
01622 666343

Note: Second map is a detailed image of the map above. This map has been customised by the Website officer, for the residents of Langley.

		Peter Lampard Chairman A274 Group 01622 862084

				Download Langley Traffic Problem Table

		Catherine Craven Chairman LSRC—Langley Safe Roads Campaign 01622 861291 chairman@ langley-kent.org.uk