Parish Cake Autumn 2020

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Countering Traffic
There are opportunities for creative
thinking around traffic says Cllr. Garry
Pethurst, Liz Daley and Jeremy Boxall
were spared. Sadly, the clean
air recovery has been short
lived and the queue of traffic
at the Hawkhurst traffic lights
has returned, as it has at the
pinch point by the church in
Goudhurst.
Now is the time to lobby
our local councillors, both
the policy makers (TWBC),
and those responsible for our
roads and public rights of
way (KCC), as well as our MP,
Helen Grant.
We need to invest and
make non-vehicle travel
a real and safe option in
our parish before, rather
than after, Goudhurst and
Cranbrook are classified like
Hawkhurst as air pollution
hotspots.
1
https://friendsoftheearth.
uk/clean-air/air-pollutionhotspots-2020-england?utm_
source=newsletter&utm_
medium=email&utm_
campaign=clean-air&utm_
content=FY2021-07_
lm2007019_air-pollution-mapenews&source=FN2007256
2
https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/
assets/documents/reports/
cat09/2007010845_AQEG_
COVID-19_Evidence_cited_in_
report.pdf
IT IS very clear that the amount of traffic, the
speed of vehicles and parking are really
major issues for Cranbrook and
Sissinghurst. Much of what is
possible to alleviate these issues
is determined by Kent Highways
and the laws surrounding road
use and is therefore out of our
hands. However, we can request
and campaign for lower speed
limits, safer crossing places and
other measures to make roads safer.
However, there are also other things we
can try to control as new developments take
place around the parish. For example, it is
important to make walking and cycling to local
shops and services as safe, easy and pleasant
as possible and these policies are written into
the neighbourhood plan. You may have some
other ideas we could adopt, so please do look
and check that we have all bases covered in this
respect.
Global warming and climate change are
significant factors in our lives and will be for
future generations. We need to remember this
as we plan for the future of our parish. Many
of us have taken the time during the past few
months to walk and cycle. If we really can
improve connectivity around the parish, we hope
that residents will continue to enjoy walking or
cycling rather than driving to local facilities.
Public transport is expensive and irregular
services need to be improved and
its use encouraged. Sometimes
developers will provide an extra
bus service as one of their Section
106 agreements. But, this is likely to be
withdrawn after a period as being expensive
and under-used. So should we be asking
developers to subsidise the cost of public
transport for the user?
Electric vehicle charging points need to be
easily available and accessible to all and this is
addressed in the neighbourhood plan.
In addition, importantly, there are exciting
plans to connect Sissinghurst, Cranbrook and
Bedgebury with a traffic-free bridleway to
facilitate walking, cycling and horse riding
away from busy roads. Do look at this and
other potential projects in the neighbourhood
plan.
We need you to get involved with these
project ideas and help move them forward. Did
you know that if projects have been costed,
it is possible to get money from developers
building in the parish through Section 106
agreements?
What do you Think? Have Your Say!
Consultation on the neighbourhood development plan runs from
mid-October for six weeks. All your comments will be taken into
account and will help to inform the final version. Your voice matters
and can make a difference!
View and respond at www.cranbrookandsissinghurstndp.co.uk
Email at info@cranbrookandsissinghurstndp.co.uk
Or see hard copies and leave your comments at the Parish Office,
The Old Fire Station, Stone Street, Cranbrook TN17 3HF.
Parish Cake • Autumn 2020 13