Parish Cake Autumn 2017

out & about
Why Do We Have
SPEED LIMITS?
Sissinghurst Speedwatch member Trisha Fermor draws
attention to ineffective signage on the A229
NO-ONE could have been
happier to hear that reduced
speed limits were to be
introduced along the A229 than
the people whose homes are
alongside it.
But the euphoria was shortlived.
It would appear that at
the same time the few and
somewhat randomly scattered
speed limit signs were installed,
a large majority of road users
began to treat the A229 as their
own Brands Hatch.
Sean Holden, our Kent
County Council member
for Cranbrook, was rightly
pleased that after battling for
months, the limits between the
roundabout at Sissinghurst and
Knoxbridge, would be reduced
to 40 or 50mph.
But instead of slowing down
traffic those of us whose homes
line the road are faced with
faster and faster vehicles – the
40 from the roundabout to close
to Mill Lane being ignored by
everything from HGVs to motor
cycles.
High speed overtaking at 50,
60, or more, especially 70+ if
you are a motorcyclist heading
north towards Staplehurst, is
frequently done in the straight
between the roundabout,
past the Shell Garage and
beyond Mill Lane. Certainly
motorcyclists, whichever
direction they are going, use
this stretch of road to show
off the versatility of their
machines, either on one wheel
or two.
Despite the junctions and
numerous driveways, for some
inexplicable reason, the 40 then
becomes 50 before, in a few
yards time, dropping again to
40 at the start of Rocks Hill.
Why didn’t the powers that
be – Kent Highways – make it
40mph all the way from Angley
Road to the bottom of Rocks
Hill instead of chopping and
changing?
We all know that KCC is
strapped for cash, as are many
local authorities, but why
so few signs? Between the
roundabout and Mill Lane there
is a lone short 40mph sign on
the right (heading towards
Staplehurst) but nothing on the
left. Some of the signs are even
being partially obscured by
growing trees.
But I suspect that no
matter how many signs we
have reckless drivers will
always speed. As a member
of Speedwatch I frequently
see drivers speeding into
Sissinghurst ignoring the
30 limit signs and slowing
down only when they see our
presence.
But perhaps
the most
aggravating
problem of all
is the increased
noise from hoards
of highly-tuned motorbikes
going to and from Hastings at
weekends and Bank Holidays.
The excessive noise, which I
believe is illegal, is horrendous
when, on a warm summer’s
day, literally hundreds of bikes
scream along the A229, the
riders seemingly oblivious as
to how much they spoil others’
enjoyment of the countryside.
I have always believed that
there is little point in having
laws of any kind unless they are
policed. We rarely see police
in the town and I have
never seen traffic
police operating
speed checks.
I appreciate
Kent Police are
overstretched but
the impression
is being given to
those of us in rural
areas that speeding is
not a problem and neither
are exceptionally noisy motor
bikes.
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Parish Cake • Autumn 2017 31