New proposal for Castle Hill Section of A21
& south
of Pembury 23-11-02 Revised; 12/08/09, 14/09/09
I visited the A21 (Castle Hill section) public exhibition at Weald of
Kent Girls Grammer School, Tonbridge, on 22-11-02. The scheme proposed
seems to be incomplete, and perhaps 5 to 10 years away depending on
public
enquiry, I was told.
It would be interesting to compare crash and fatality rates of the
proposed scheme with comparable section of road e.g. the Pembury
by-pass (I have those figures). But I view with scepticism the revised
fatality rate, which seems to predict to zero fatalities in the first
30 years. As you may be aware there has been one fatality in each of
the recent five years periods I have, though I don't have figures for
the last five years. That would be 6 deaths in 30 years as a guess, but
surprisingly ATkins predict a reduction of 6 fatalities over the 30
years following opening.
The 30 year reduction figures given to me are: Fatal -6, Serious -28,
and Slight -150. I have asked for this to be sent to me plus predicted
traffic on this and other roads. The press release on the
http://www.go-se.gov.uk web space also makes comical reading. Another
public exhibition on parts of the A21 south of Pembury is due for the 6
& 7 December at Bewl Water.
The proposed road seems cut into Castle Hill the scheduled monument,
but the Atkins rep. thought that there was mitigating aspects involving
piles, and something else, I left unsure. The claimed pedestrian,
cycle, and equestrian, benefits were fragmented, and was said that they
had not all been designed in yet. The North going Southbound slip road
seems excessively long, And there are two large new roadabouts at
Longfield Road, of which one is being built now take a lot of land.
Changes since the A2H study, are removal of the north end roundabout,
and raising the then proposed 50 MPH speed limit, to 70 MPH.
The height of the road is increased which was the only aspect the CPRE
objected to last time. The road at present is visible from Southborough
and High Brooms, and perhaps with the greater speed, and usage I can
anticipate more noise. I did not ask about these aspects. The cost is
£30M.
Finally I have also received a summery of the Orbit (now called M25
study) 4th newsletter, which is a very thin summary. The outcome is
disappointing, and I anticipate some object even from road users on the
4 lanes. You might note that consultants Hailberton (Brown & Route)
is a George Bush Co.
A21 South of Pembury
Exibition At Bewl Water
Although the proposals for the A21 South of Pembury anticipated better
safety, it was acknowledged by Gordon Adam of (Hyder or HWA) that there
would be more junctions therefore more crashes (there word was
accidents, though they had not assessed the current figures to make
this judgement). No comment was made on the degree of surverity of the
crashes. Though it was suggested that they might be less survere.
Other scheme shown was the Lamberhurst bypass. Fatal 6, south of
Lamberhurst 6.
The two proposed schemes were for Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst, though
crash and fatality figures were not given for the Pembury Bypass and
Kippings Cross junction, which are quite bad. The other scheme was for
Flimwell to Roberts Bridge. These schemes featured many embankments and
some cuttings, and the consultants anticipated objection, and seemed
ready to concede a lowering of the road. There was also a tunnel at
Silver Hill, nr Roberts bridge.
Some parts 30th worst in uk, the actual figures are 34th. & 87th.
Cost
£27M + 47M. Journey time saved 15 minutes. Objective to reduce
accidents
by 50%.
** Figures I wrote down 1998-2000 **
Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst:
* Vehicals/day 22,900 this is considerably more than in 1996. Prediction
26000 by 2010.
* Fatal 1, Serious 16, Slight 40.
Flimwell to Roberts Bridge:
* Vehicals/day 18,500 & 15,800 this is considerably more than in
1996.
Prediction 21,000 & 18,000 by 2010.
* Fatal 4, Serious 8, Slight 4.
Other points:
* Half way through our world oil reserves.
* A26 at Eridge may be a comparable section {I have not found this road
on AA dangerous Road) of three lane road, though it does have a bus
stop
on the 100MPH section of road.