Lidsing Garden Community SPD

Comment

Representation ID: 689

Received: 13/12/2025

Respondent: Jasmine Chandler

I would like to raise the following concerns and considerations in relation to the new housing development at Lidsing. As someone who lives near this will affect me hugely and therefore it is imperative that those of us who live in the village have our voices heard.

Firstly, from my understanding Forge Lane will be closed off by the bridge to stop traffic using it as a cut through which is brilliant. However, this can only be done if the road is also shut at the end of Dunn St (the junction with Lidsing Road). Already there is a huge amount of traffic that use The Street/Dunn St to cut through to Maidstone etc and they do not adhere to the 20mph speed limit. I walk with my children every day and cars speed past us. In particular there is a section of road near to Forge Lane where the road narrows, as does the path, which cars do not slow down or stop to give way. Instead they regularly mount the kerb, even when I'm with my children. I have legitimate concerns that if Dunn St is not also closed that this problem will multiply exponentially as everyone uses the road and it will no longer be safe to walk my children to school which is ridiculous for a small village.

Secondly, the joining of the new link road to the M2 must be completed in phase one when the new road is also built. Currently, without all of the new traffic, the roundabout at the end of the village already heavily backs up at peak times. If the new road is also joining this then it will be total chaos. Currently, traffic sits on Wigmore Road most of the day. If you are then also adding the backed up traffic from the new road then no one will be able to move in their cars. It is imperative that this is done first, so proper infrastructure is put into place.

Whilst nobody wants this level of housing on their doorstep. In particular, when you buy a house to live in a quiet village surrounded by countryside, I appreciate it is happening regardless. But I do ask all of you who make the decisions to have real consideration for us, the residents, and to try and mitigate the negative impact as much as possible. If you (at peak times) stand on Dunn St at the narrow parts, width restriction parts etc you will understand how precarious it is at the moment due to the high speeds of drivers and lack of consideration. This MUST be addressed prior to phase one. Please spend time in our lovely village to understand our concerns and come up with solutions with us.

Comment noted.
The SPD sets out additional guidance on the approach to transport assessment and mitigation (Chapter 7.3) with further detail provided in the accompanying Transport Annex. More detailed assessment of transport impacts and the design of transport mitigation measures will need to be set out as part of the formulation and consideration of future planning applications.
The SPD takes forward the requirements of Policy LPRSP4(B) of the Local Plan Review which established the necessary scope of infrastructure, which confirms the spur being opening in phase 2 (2033-2038).
Figure 41 at Section D of the SPD replicates the required phasing of development and associated infrastructure.
Infrastructure will be secured through the use of planning conditions and legal agreements, as part of the consideration and determination of future planning applications which will also set out provisions for suitable traffic monitoring.