Members of the public have the opportunity to speak at this meeting.  Anyone wishing to present a petition or speak on this item is required to register with the Democratic Services Section by noon on Friday 16 December 2016.  Questions that have not been submitted by this deadline will not be accepted.  Only two people will be allowed to speak on each item and each person is limited to asking two questions.  Each speaker will have a maximum of three minutes to speak.

Petitions, questions and statements will only be accepted if they are in relation to an item being considered at this meeting.

A251

Mrs Walsh, a local resident, spoke about ongoing issues on the A251, including traffic speed, HGVs, and personal safety.  Mrs Walsh explained that her house was situated on the A251 and the current speed limit of 50mph made getting in and out of her property in a vehicle, near to a bend, very dangerous.  She explained there had been a spate of accidents on the road.

Mrs Walsh raised concern with the amount of HGVs which used the A251, which she considered to be a rural road.  She explained that together with the movement of farm vehicles, it was virtually impossible for two HGVs to pass each other on the road.

Mrs Walsh outlined issues of her personal safety and explained the danger of her having to go onto the road, so that the driver could see her, in order to flag down a bus.

Mrs Walsh asked the Board to consider the issues that she had raised, to include extension of the 40mph limit, and restriction on HGV’s width/weight limit.

The Chairman thanked Mrs Walsh for attending and advised that officers would come back with a report on the matter at a future meeting.

20’s Plenty

Mrs Russell, representing 20’s Plenty for Faversham Working Group, spoke on item 11 of the report, ‘Update on 20’s Plenty for Faversham Working Group’ and gave a presentation on the work carried out so far by the Group.

Mrs Russell summarised the issues that were raised in the report attached to the agenda.  She explained that a consultation had been carried out where residents identified key spots where they felt unsafe, which amounted to 478 places in Faversham.  The survey had indicated overwhelming support for a 20mph speed limit throughout Faversham.  A technical appraisal on the feasibility of a 20mph limit had been undertaken, and Mrs Russell outlined five key principles for developing a strategy for 20mph in Faversham.

Mrs Russell outlined the impact of new developments in Faversham on the existing congestion pressure, increasing pollution, and the associated health implications.  She explained that it was vital to improve cycling and walking options in the town, with increased interconnectivity.  Mrs Russell stated that the cost of implementing a 20mph limit across all residential roads in Faversham was estimated to be between £35 and £60K.  She highlighted the six key recommendations as noted in the report.

The Chairman thanked Mrs Russell for her presentation.

The Chairman advised that he had been presented with a petition by the Cabinet Member for Regeneration from local residents to provide an extended controlled parking zone in School Road, Faversham.  A Member suggested that a wider area beyond School Road be looked at as well;  the Cabinet Member for Regeneration acknowledged his statement, but wanted to ensure that looking at a wider area did not delay the issues that the residents who signed the petition had raised.  The petition was handed to the Engineer for a report to be submitted at the next meeting of the Board.

At this point, the Chairman advised that item 11, which Mrs Russell had spoken on, would be considered first.