Solution in sight for danger road
A solution could be on the cards for a controversial crossroads as a sweetener for a housing development.
Linton residents have long been fearful when crossing the busy A229, but have had to do so because the church and its car park lie on one side of the road and the village hall and Bull Inn are on the other.
The parish council has been pressing Kent County Council to take some action to improve safety, although the roads authority has been reluctant, saying the accident record did not justify it and that sight-lines were inadequate to install a lightcontrolled pedestrian crossing.
There were also concerns any form of controlled crossing would lead to an increase in signage and street furniture not in keeping with the historic village centre and conservation area.
The road is also not wide enough for a central island.
However, planning consultancy DHA believes it has come up with a possible solution that involves installing village gateways above and below the village centre; erecting “pedestrians crossing” warning signs; moving the southbound bus stop from its current position in front of the church to a new position above the almshouses; installing a dropped kerb above the almshouses to encourage pedestrians to cross there; and other minor changes.
A full presentation of the proposals will be on public view on Monday from 6pm in the village hall, followed by the parish council meeting at 7.30pm when the scheme will be discussed.
DHA has drawn up the idea on behalf of its client, Alan Firmin Ltd, which owns land at Vicarage Field – a green field to the north of the allotments off Wheelers Lane, where Countryside Properties has submitted a planning application to Maidstone council seeking permission to build 13 homes.
It is thought Firmin will offer the safe crossing scheme as part of the mitigation measures.
Jerry Whitmarsh, parish council chairman, said: “We regard development on the Vicarage Field as infill and have not objected to it.”
Planning application 16/505401 refers.