‘It’s only a matter of time before there is a death’
Renewed call for review of A20 speed limits
A villager fed up with speeding and ‘dangerous’ conditions on a stretch of the A20 near Bearsted is calling for action to finally be taken to reduce the speed limit. With the help of three parish councils and a resident’s society, Rowland Little, from Hollingbourne, wants to see the national speed limit of 60mph reduced to 40mph between the Junction 8 roundabout for the M20, to just before the Tesco Express garage where the 30mph limit kicks in.
Mr Little, 76, from Manor Lane, has been campaigning for the move since 2014.
After six years of trying, he is refreshing his appeal saying the road is still “appalling”. He added: “Things are exactly the same as they were six years ago. I feel I have got to do something about it because it’s only a matter of time before there’s a death.”
Mr Little says the biggest issue comes when the limit suddenly drops. He said: “Going from 60mph into 30mph immediately like we have to at the moment is dangerous even for the most experienced drivers.
“If you come off the motorway at Junction 8 and you enter the roundabout by the Biffa Depot, the 40mph limit should come in there. Not only will it make it safer, it will make it so much easier for drivers coming into the 30mph limit section.” Bearsted, Thurnham and Hollingbourne parish councils have united to request the speed limit review from Kent County Council (KCC).
Hollingbourne Parish Council says itwould like to see it extended to cover an even wider stretch of the A20, up to Chegworth Road before Junction 8.
Cllr Catherine O’Meara said: “Speeding through the village is the subject of most of the complaints that the parish council receives.
“I live alongside the A20 in the vicinity of The Park Gate Inn where the speed limit is 60mph. There are near misses almost every day often as a result of vehicles turning there and Leeds Castle Golf Course, or further along Ashford Road into Broomfield Road.
“Traffic approaches these locations at speeds which are considered to be seriously endangering lives. Verges are constantly damaged by speeding vehicles leaving the highway to avoid collisions with vehicles waiting to turn at these junctions.” She said traffic flow has been made worse since the introduction of new homes in Harrietsham and will get worse if further developments are approved.
KCC had not responded at the time of going to press.