The Senior Programme Manager introduced the report which provided an update on the Faversham town-wide 20 mph limit trial that was funded by the Department for Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Fund. He said the consultation had received 668 responses with 65% agreeing that a 20 mph limit would make Faversham safer, 61% saying that it would make Faversham healthier and 57% agreed it would make Faversham cleaner. However, 37% of respondents objected to the scheme, in comparison to 63% who were in support of the scheme.

The Chairman invited Mr Chris Oswald-Jones to speak on the item.

Mr Jones said he was in support of the scheme and thanked the local community for campaigning to get this scheme started. He felt that the scheme would become a pilot study for many more towns and that a reduction in speeds in certain areas of Faversham had already been noticed by residents.

The Chairman invited Faversham Town Councillor Chris Williams to speak on the item.

Councillor Williams started by explaining to members that the local community had been campaigning for five years to get the scheme up and running. Faversham Town residents would be encouraged by Active Travel into the town and this would result in lower levels of pollution.

Councillor Mike Henderson was invited to speak on the item and said that this scheme was a ‘whole Town project’ and it was important to keep the scheme as simple as possible. He thought the scheme would encourage walking and cycling in Faversham as well as reducing the CO₂ emissions in the town. He added that problem areas such as, Oare Road, had already shown lower speeds but he hoped that the scheme would help keep the speeds down.

Councillor Carole Jackson was invited to speak on the item and said that it was pleasing to see reduced speeds through Faversham areas already and wanted more compliance to maintain slow speeds in Faversham.

The Chairman opened the debate to members and comments made included:

·         Thought the scheme was a success and had already reduced speeds on certain roads in Faversham;

·         thanked the Swale JTB, working groups and KCC for all their hard work in getting the scheme to where it was now;

·         compliance of speed was an issue but was a matter for the police;

·         thanked the Faversham community for all their help and support;

·         the report showed the importance of Active Travel;

·         using traffic orders had helped KCC understand the problem roads to ensure the correct measures were put into place;

·         the scheme would have positive effects in the Borough;

·         what were the innovative measures and how would they be put into place?;

·         would like a similar scheme to be put into place at Sheerness; and

·         would the Swale JTB committee be able to review the scheme at future meetings to apply further measures if needed?

In response, the Senior Programme Manager said that the innovative measures included non-physical measures that would change the drivers environment to make them slow down. He gave an example of changing the colour of the road or removing the white lines in the middle of the road as a method of reducing speed. He added that the Swale JTB would be able to review the scheme and apply extra measures in areas that required them at future meetings.

Councillor Eddie Thomas proposed that the full extent of the 20mph limit as per the trial be extended, to look at other additional engineering measures at Bysing Wood Road, Oare Road, Lower Road and Briton Road, to look at raising awareness and changing the behaviours of drivers in Faversham and this was seconded by Councillor Alastair Gould.

Resolved:

(1)  That the full extent of the 20mph limit as per the trial be extended.

(2)  That additional engineering measures at Bysing Wood Road, Oare Road, Lower Road and Briton Road be explored.

(3)  To raise awareness and change the behaviours of drivers in Faversham.