Sevenoaks parking review underway

One of the biggest ever reviews of on-street parking in Sevenoaks town and around the station at Tubs Hill is underway.

During October some 3,000 letters were sent to residents and resident associations asking for their views on draft proposals to improve local parking arrangements.
 
Amongst the aims of the review are to better regulate commuter parking and to make available more parking for people who shop or work in the town.
 
Sevenoaks District Council began the review after comments from local people and resident groups about inconsiderate and sometimes dangerous parking in their communities.
 
The draft proposals include restricting parking in some residential areas, by way of issuing resident parking permits, and making better use of some of the roads near Sevenoaks rail station, that currently have inappropriate parking controls, to instead allow controlled commuter parking.
 
They also include additional parking bays for disabled drivers and for school buses, some additional pay and display areas and new restrictions near junctions and corners to improve road safety.
 
Consideration is also being given to making a number of parking permits available to people who work in the town. Permits could also be made available to owners of environmentally friendly vehicles such as hybrid or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cars at reduced rates to encourage green travel.
 
Should the proposals go ahead, and where suitable, existing parking restrictions would be amended to provide more parking spaces for use in Sevenoaks.
 
The draft proposals were drawn up in consultation with the Council’s Sevenoaks Parking Review Group, which comprises representatives from resident associations, Sevenoaks Town Council, the chamber of commerce and local Councillors.

Residents have until the end of November to comment on the draft proposals.

The Council is expecting to receive hundreds of responses and over the coming months it will amended the proposals in light of the comments. The Council is planning to publish revised formal proposals for further consultation by the summer.
 
For more information, log on to www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/parkingrestrictions or call 01732 227000.
 
Cllr Gary Williamson, the Council Cabinet member with responsibility for transport issues, says: "We are taking this opportunity to carry out a thorough review of on-street parking arrangements, rather that a piecemeal approach, taking into account the many suggestions we have received from local people. We would stress that at this stage we are asking for our residents views on our draft proposals before formal plans are put forward for further consultation next year."

Ends

Press release issued: October 18 2006