News
Shorne Ifield Road Temporary Closure 3rd January 2023
We are advised that Gravesham Council has requested Harlex to clear the fly tipping in Shorne Ifield Road, but Harlex is closed until 3rd January. The clearance will be carried out thing on 3rd January, but their vehicle will physically block the road for up to an hour while the work is carried out. Residents are therefore requested to enter and exit via Mill Hill Lane rather than Thong Lane on the morning of 3rd January.
LOWER THAMES CROSSING PLANNING APPLICATION SUBMITTED
On 31st October 2022, National Highways submitted their application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the Planning Inspectorate for permission to proceed with the construction of the Lower Thames Crossing. Acceptance: The Inspectorate has 28 days to decide whether the application meets the required standards to proceed to examination. Pre-Examination: If accepted, the process will move into the Pre-Examination stage, when the public will be able to register with the Planning Inspectorate to become an Interested Party by making a Relevant Representation. All Interested Parties will be invited to attend a Preliminary Meeting, run and chaired by the Examining Authority. Although there is no statutory timescale for the pre-examination stage, it usually takes approximately three months from notification of an accepted application. Examination: The Planning Inspectorate has up to six months to carry out the examination. During this stage Interested Parties who have registered by making a Relevant Representation are invited to provide more details of their views in writing. Recommendation: The Planning Inspectorate must prepare a report to the relevant Secretary of State, including a recommendation, within three months of the close of the six month Examination stage. Decision: The Secretary of State then has a further three months to make the decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent. Post decision: Once a decision has been issued by the Secretary of State, there is a six week period during which the decision may be challenged in the High Court. This process of legal challenge is known as Judicial Review. We could be just 18 months away from the commencement of the work to build the Lower Thames Crossing.
20 mph Zone Consultation Report
Shorne Parish Council has now carried out an ‘informal’ consultation on our proposals for a 20 mph zone through the centre of Shorne, from a point in Tanyard Hill just south of Court Lodge, to point in Forge Lane just north of Malthouse Lane, to include all roads and cul-de-sacs leading off. It also proposes creating a 30 mph speed limit in Mill Hill Lane, to act as a buffer zone between the national speed limit in Shorne Ifield Road and the 20 mph zone in Crown Lane. A map showing the proposed extent of the speed restrictions is attached below, as is a summary of the responses received. Hard copies of the consultation documentation were delivered to all households located within the proposed 20 mph zone and the 30 mph buffer zone (a total of 221 properties) plus a further 13 households just outside the limits of the zone. In addition, the consultation was publicised in the parish magazine, on the village notice boards, and on local social media, with links to the consultation page on the parish council website at https://shorneparishcouncil.org/a-20-mph-scheme-for-shorne-have-your-say/. The consultation ran for an 8-week period from 10th June to 31st July 2022. The proposals received very strong support. The results can be briefly summarised as follows: . . . . . . . . . . Question 1 asked: Do you agree with Shorne Parish Council’s proposal to establish a 20 mph zone through the centre of Shorne Village, to include all the roads leading from The Street and Forge Lane? A total of 43 responses were received. 41 respondents (95%) agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal. 2 respondents disagreed. . . . . . . . . . . Question 2 asked: Do you agree with Shorne Parish Council’s proposed location of the … Read more
A 20 MPH SCHEME FOR SHORNE? HAVE YOUR SAY!
(THIS CONSULTATION IS NOW CLOSED.) Kent County Council (KCC) has agreed in principle to Shorne Parish Council’s proposal for a 20 mph scheme in the centre of Shorne village, subject to favourable consultation responses. The final design needs to be approved by KCC, but we have been requested to carry out an informal consultation, based on our suggested design. If there is sufficient support, then KCC will carry out a final design and a formal consultation. We would like to receive your support for our proposal. The Scheme We are requesting a 20 mph zone, from the bottom of Tanyard Hill just south of the entrance to Court Lodge (probably somewhere near the existing ‘School’ sign), through the whole of The Street, to a point in Forge Lane just to the north of Malthouse Lane (probably somewhere near the existing “School”/ Z bend sign). The advantage of a 20 mph zone rather than a 20 mph speed limit is that it would also apply to every road leading off, including Court Lodge, Swillers Lane, Butchers Hill, Manor Field, Crown Lane, Cob Drive, Malthouse Lane, as well as Hollands Close, Warren View, and Crown Green. At the same time, we would also like to see the speed limit in Mill Hill Lane reduced to 30 mph to act as a buffer before entering the 20 mph zone at its junction with Crown Lane, to match the existing 30 mph limit in Tanyard Hill and in Forge Lane (which will be extended down to the A226 as part of a separate scheme.). A labelled map of the proposed extent of the 20 mph zone is shown below, together with impressions of how the approach thresholds may appear. Consultation We hope that you support our proposals. If we get sufficient support, we … Read more