Rural Areas: Mike Martin's Initiatives for Village Safety

Village Speeding

I've worked with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent County Council to give grants of £25,000 each to all Parish Councils to implement safety and speed reduction measures in their villages. These are being assessed by Kent County Council and many projects have already been approved.

HGVs

After successfully petitioning SATNAV companies to stop sending HGVs through Goudhurst, constituents have reported fewer lorries. Now, I've launched a new initiative 'Spot it. Snap it. Send it.' that allows residents to report the remaining HGVs using Goudhurst as a cut-through (report here). I will then send this information to haulage companies to hold them accountable.

Buses

I'm pressuring Kent County Council to increase the frequency of rural bus routes, which serve as a vital connection between our local villages and towns. I've petitioned Autocar and KCC to reinstate the number 255 bus route, which connected Sandhurst, Hawkhurst, Lamberhurst, and Pembury to Royal Tunbridge Wells. Residents relied on this route to get to work, go to the shops, see their GP, and stay connected with loved ones. Cutting this service has taken away people's independence and left them isolated.