Roads, crossings...and parking

Monday evening found me at the Town Hall for a meeting of the Joint Transportation Committee - a gathering of County and and Borough councillors and officials to review progress on various transport issues across the Tunbridge Wells area.

The good news for Pembury is that work on the crossings outside the Primary School and at Bull's Place (the funding for which my predecessor, Kevin Lynes, had worked hard to obtain) is due to start shortly.  Other good news is that the County Council has found money to go ahead with re-surfacing the Pembury Road this Financial Year.  Hopefully, the work can be carried out quickly and with the minimum of disruption.  I also put in a pitch in support of replacing, rather than tarmacing, red brick paving.

The meeting also considered views, both for and against, the trial residents' parking scheme in Clifton, Brook, and Oak Roads, before deciding to proceed.  Much of the concern stems from what appear to be inadequate parkign space at High Brooms station.  I made the point that there is a case for looking at making unused land close by (e.g. the gas holder site) available for additional parking for commuters.
 

  

Frustrated of Tunbridge Wells - trying to find a parking space in Clifton Road

Less satisfactory was the discussion that followed on parking policy across Tunbridge Wells.  I know from my own experience, this can be a neuralgic issue.  There is a need for a conshistent and fair policy across Tunbridge Wells.  Unfortunately, not enough thought has gone into devising one, with one or two local councillors preferring to play to the gallery rather than do the hard work in coming up with satisfactory solutions.  I fully sympathise with anyone wanting to be able to park outside (or at least near) their house.  But in popular areas - particularly in the town centre and around High Brooms stations -  there is an enormous demand for parking space.  How much space should be reserved for local residents?  How many permits should be issued per household?  And there is the question of who pays?  £60 seems a lot of money.  But I am told that it costs more than £80 to issue a permit - and many other Boroughs - Bromley, Kingston, Wandsworth etc - seek to recoup costs fully.  Is it right for a parking permit scheme in, say, St James's, to be subsidised by Council tax payers in Sherwood, Pembury and other parts of Tunbridge Wells?   I would be interested in local views.

A local success story - The Skinners' Kent Academy

I was at the Skinners' Kent Academy for the topping out ceremony for its new building on 28 June.  The Academy, under the dynamic and inspirational leadserhip of its Principal, Sian Carr, has made enormous progress in the three years since it opened.  Earlier this year, Ofsted commended its relentless and successful focus on raising attainment and there has been strong improvement in GCSE results.  Pupil numbers have risen to well over 300 with children coming from as far away as Edenbridge, and the aim is for there to be over 1000 when the school reaches full capacity.  The £21m new building programme should provide superb classrooms for the children - and the associated sports facilities will benefit the whole community.

The progress that Sian and her team have made demonstrates that the academies can lead to real improvement, offering local children the opportunity to benefit from a great education. I am keen to see the programme extended elsewhere in Kent as part of the Council's efforts to improve school standards.