New crossing for Larkfield
January 26, 2011 9:29 AM
Kent County Council has announced work will start on replacing the Zebra crossing in New Hythe Lane near the Fire Station, Larkfield in the week starting 14th February. There will be work during that week and then the new light controlled Puffin Crossing (an upgrade on a Pelican!) will be brought into operation over the period 28th February to 4th March.
The new crossing is to improve the safety of people crossing the road at this point especially children going to the schools in Swallow Road and from the 'Trees Estate' area.
The crossing is being provided in response to a local campaign supported by a residents petition of over 500 names submitted to the KCC last year.
The scheme was nearly postponed because of the public spending cuts by KCC but heroically saved when Kent County Councillor Mrs Trudy Dean, who represents Larkfield, agreed to contribute £25,000 towards the costs from her local members Highway Fund.
Trudy says:
"This is a very busy and dangerous crossing serving the schools, shops, library and health services at Martin Square. The accident record made it a top priority for me and I am delighted that it has as a result avoided the cuts."
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Councillor Mrs Anita Oakley representing Larkfield South, helped residents with the petition. She says:
"This is one of the few occasions when we have used the ultimate tool of a petition from residents to get the desired result. The petition was begun after an horrific accident in which three teenagers were injured whilst using the Zebra crossing. This accident confirmed what many people had been telling us, that traffic was simply not stopping in response to pedestrians. Thank goodness it is at last set to go ahead and we can all cross the road in the confident knowledge that the lights, on this new design of Puffin crossing, will stay red so long as there is someone actually crossing."
A road closure is planned for Sunday 28th February in order to safely carry out some localised carriageway resurfacing. Sunday has been chosen to take advantage of a much reduced bus service as access to Kingfisher road will not be possible.