Kent tackles lorries in the countryside

Kent Highway Services has launched a major action programme to tackle the problem of lorries causing disruption and traffic chaos on narrow country lanes and rural roads.

The work, which is expected to take between 12-18 months, will involve a complete overhaul of Kent’s current lorry-route map, a county-wide review of lorry directional and regulatory signs, a review of Traffic Regulation Orders such as weight, height and width restrictions – which set out where Heavy Goods Vehicles are prevented from driving – and working with satellite navigation firms to ensure this new information is provided to drivers.

Kent Highway Services is also in consultation with the two leading industry bodies, the Freight Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association. 

A dramatic rise in the number of businesses operating out of rural industrial units and farm buildings over the past few years has contributed significantly to problems with lorries using country roads.

Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and WasteNick Chard said:

“Lorries can cause tremendous problems for residents and businesses when they use the wrong road and get stuck. They also rumble through our small villages day in, day out, in some cases causing damage to property. Of course, businesses have to use our roads as part of their normal operations, but at the moment we do not have a full picture of the best routes for them.

“What we want to do is put lorries on the best available routes for them. We will look at where HGVs want and need to travel and map out routes that will minimise disruption to residents and other businesses.”

District councils are responsible for approving the development of industrial units and the licences that allow them to operate. Kent Highway Services will also look at working more closely with the planning authorities, so that it is consulted on preferred lorry routes when operating licences are granted.

Kent Highway Services is also tackling specific, local lorry-related issues by developing tailored plans to fix them, such as restricting through lorry traffic from the High Street, in Sevenoaks.

Last year nearly 3.2 million freight lorries passed through the ports of Dover and Ramsgate, and the Channel Tunnel[1] – that’s an average of 8,700 a day. Dover, meanwhile, expects to see an increase of around 50% in the number of HGVs using the port over the next two decades[2].

Nick Chard added:

“Lorry traffic is expected to grow significantly over the next couple of decades. The work we are carrying out will mean we are well prepared in advance to tackle the demands this growth will place on our county.”  pic from World of Good photos on Flickr