20mph Limit Pre-Consultation – Next Steps
Thank you to everyone who took the time and opportunity to respond to the Parish Councils Pre-Consultation on the 20 MPH limit, which closed on 31 March.
Full details of the proposals may be found here: https://ashparishcouncil.gov.uk/news/20mph/
Pre-Consultation Results
The number of responses to the questionnaire were as follows:
194 Online 82 By post 276 TOTAL
Of these, responses were received from:
264 A resident of Ash 3 A resident from somewhere else 5 On behalf of a friend or relative 3 On behalf of an organisation, business or group 1 Other 276 TOTAL
Respondents were asked to state whether they agree with the proposals to impose a 20 MPH speed limit and replied as follows:
Yes 172 62% Partly 25 9% No 79 29% Don’t know 0 0% TOTAL 276 100%
Common questions raised by respondents:
Why is Sandwich Road not included?
KCC identified roads in the village of Ash where a 20 MPH speed limit could be suitable. They determined that Sandwich Road would not be suitable for inclusion because “the existing average speeds on Sandwich Road exceed 24mph which is the maximum we require for a 20 MPH speed limit to be considered”.
The traffic limits on this road would reduce from 60 MPH to 30 MPH (as at present) and then reduce to 20 MPH at the junction with The Street / New Street, should this scheme go ahead.
Why can’t the costs of this scheme be spent on repairing potholes instead?
Road maintenance and pothole repairs is the responsibility of KCC as the Highways Authority. The Parish Council cannot use their budget to carry out these works. The Parish Council does have the power to request non-essential road improvements via our Highway Improvement Plan and the 20 MPH limit would therefore need to be financed by the Parish Council on this basis.
How would the 20 MPH limit be enforced?
Drivers are expected to comply, and the police can enforce it.
A speed limit is a legally enforceable maximum speed for a specific road or stretch of road. It is usually indicated by standard circular signs at the start of the limit and at regular intervals. A 20 MPH speed limit relies mainly on signs and road markings.
Ash Parish Council note the guidance of Kent Police and the Department of Transport that successful 20 MPH speed limits are generally self-enforcing, i.e., the existing conditions of the road together with measures such as traffic calming or signing, publicity and information as part of the scheme, lead to a mean traffic speed compliant with the speed limit.
In addition, the Parish has an active Speedwatch group which works with Kent Police to identify persistent repeat offenders – who will be passed to local Community Safety Units for appropriate and proportionate intervention.
Next Steps
Ash Parish Council will share the results of the Pre-Consultation (including all free-form comments received, whether for or against) with Kent County Council as the highways authority.
KCC will then review these and determine if they will go ahead with the 20 MPH limit, advise the process to be followed and confirm the exact cost to Ash Parish Council for the project.
This information will be shared with residents in due course.
