A26 Safety First

Sat Feb 11 2012 
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> A26 SAFETY FIRST CAMPAIGN
 
tunbridge wells town
tunbridge wells town
Kent
A26 Safety First Campaign
tunbridge_wells Kent
 

As a result of a recent fatal accident along the A26 London Road, as well as general dissatisfaction with the outdated, unsafe speed allowed on this 1 mile stretch & lack of safe pedestrian crossings serving bus stops, an action group has been formed to address and resolve the issues for ALL users.
A26 Safety First Campaign
 

The A26 Safety First Campaign was lauched on Tuesday 11th March.
Click HERE to read a report on the event or
click HERE for our video report on the event.

 

The A26 Safety First Campaign has drawn up a number of changes they would like to see made on the A26 to improve the safety of the road.

 

1) SPEED DOWN TO 30-MPH
We feel that the speed needs to come down from the current national limit at the beginning of the A26 (the flyover), to 30-mph to meet with the 30-mph limit in place at the Vauxhall Lane junction. This whole stretch is a mile long and should be 30-mph IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. If we reduce the speed from 60-mph to 30-mph all the driver has lost is 30seconds.
30 seconds traded to save a life seems fair to us.
Possibly the duel carriageway needs to be made single from the flyover, immediately making the speed of 30mph realistic.

2) INTERACTIVE SIGNS and SPEED CAMERAS ON A26
In order for the new speed to be policed, cost effectively, we need flashing interactive ‘30- SLOW DOWN’ signs, and a speed camera.

3) REPOSITIONING OF BUS STOPS WITH SAFE CROSSINGS
We need the bus stops at Harland Way and the one opposite repositioned nearer to each other so they can share a new, safe crossing. Possibly the Harland Way bus stop should be moved towards the centre of the Harland Way stretch of the A26 to take it away from these two dangerous junctions (Harland Way & Bidborough Ridge).
A safe crossing is needed for the isolated bus stop opposite Mabledon Farm.
We also want a crossing put in at the Birchwood end of the 1-mile stretch to service the sizeable existing residential community and the new community planned for the Birchwood Garage area,The Meadows School, and the Nursery & Church on the common.

4) SIGNAGE ON THE A21 DIRECTING TRAFFIC TO BE REVIEWED AND AMENDED
Currently the signage is confusing on the A21. Lorries and commercial vehicles needing the Tunbridge Wells Longfield Road Industrial Estate are warned too late. They see signs that say Tunbridge Wells before they see Industrial Estate signs and often come off through Southborough. This should be reviewed.

5) BIRCHWOOD GARAGE PLANS
We understand that there are plans for the re-development of Birchwood Garage into offices and residential properties. Therefore there is even more reason for traffic calming measures and safe crossings to be implemented NOW, before the many additional pedestrians and car drivers move into this space.

If these changes are made we feel we will have a safer, quieter, lower polluting road with the added bonus of knowing our local community, young and old can travel with greater confidence in their personal safety.
 

The campaign has created a letter for people to send to Greg Clark MP for Tunbridge Wells,
Councillor Roy Bullock of Kent County Council and Councillor Roger Manning who is Highways Advisory Board Chairman.

Click HERE to download the letter
 
For more details on the A26 Safety First Campaign please contact
Claire Dominic on 01892 528738 or safetyfirsta26@mac.com