Over time there has been an increase in car ownership in Hadlow and this has led to a number of parking issues. Residents, the parish council and local borough councillors have asked us to carry out a review of on-street parking in the parish of Hadlow.
The introduction of parking changes can be controversial and there can be conflicting needs. Restricting on-street parking can ease traffic flow, but some on-street parking can be beneficial in helping keep vehicle speeds down. Short-stay parking with regular turnover is important to local commercial premises that rely on visitors, but longer-stay parking is important to residents that do not have their own parking facilities.
The parking review can only consider changes to public highway, on roads adopted by Kent County Council, and the aim is to reinforce the requirements of The Highway Code, not to park at junctions, bends, crossings or where it would cause an obstruction.
Hadlow Parish Council have been involved in deciding which areas to include and in making the proposals.
This review started some years ago, and proposals were prepared for consultation in 2020. However, due to the COVID19 pandemic and the following changes to traffic patterns the consultation was not carried out until earlier this year, as “a new normal” of parking demand and traffic movements were established.
January/February 2023
Informal consultation took place 27 January 2023 to 27 February 2023. This stage of consultation asked for the views of the immediate residents and businesses in the area. Letters and a consultation form were delivered to these residents and businesses.
June 2023
Responses to the informal consultation were considered and the proposals have been adapted. The proposals now form a range of separate measures at locations where new parking restrictions are to be introduced, or existing restrictions are to be made fit for purpose, in line with the requirements of the Highway Code and modern highway design standards.
Responses to the informal consultation, along with the original and adjusted proposals, were reported to borough councillors 05 June 2023 Joint Transportation Board (JTB) meeting. They decided that the adjusted proposals be taken forward to formal consultation.
Revised plans
- A26 High Street and Hadlow Square area
- A26 Maidstone Road north area
- A26 Maidstone Road south area
- A26 Tonbridge Road area
- Carpenters Lane mid area
- Carpenters Lane north area
- Carpenters Lane south area
- Court Lane area
- Great Elms area
- Maltings Close area
- Victoria Road and Three Elm Lane – Golden Green area
Original proposal plans
- A26 High Street and Hadlow Square area (original plan)
- A26 Maidstone Road north area (original plan)
- A26 Maidstone Road south area (original plan)
- A26 Tonbridge Road area (original plan)
- Carpenters Lane mid area (original plan)
- Carpenters Lane north area (original plan)
- Carpenters Lane south area (original plan)
- Court Lane area (original plan)
- Great Elms area (original plan)
- Maltings Close area (original plan)
- Victoria Road and Three Elm Lane – Golden Green area (original plan)
What happens next
Formal consultation is currently due to take place in summer 2024