The battle to ease a spate of accidents in West Malling is intensifying with police and Kent Highways onside.

A report by experts at the highways agency is expected to be delivered soon to West Malling Parish Council, as more volunteers take up monitoring speeding vehicles.

The area has been hit by a string of accidents in recent years, on The Green and in nearby roads.

Now, a two-pronged attack, supported by parish councillors, is being activated. It involves the speedwatch scheme, run by police, and traffic-measuring devices from Kent County Council.

Last week, officials from the agency “walked the ground” with parish councillors to look at the town’s blackspots, which include Town Hill, the High Street and St Leonards Street.

Parish Cllr Keith Bullard said: “The aim is to establish traffic speed and flow. We’re now expecting KCC’s report.

“It will identify the best locations to install road cable strips providing 24-hour monitoring of the number of vehicles passing, their speed and time. From that will flow traffic-calming measures.”

Separately, the council has been supporting the speedwatch initiative by Kent Police and the number of local volunteers has gone from three to eight.

The new recruits finished training this week and are geared to monitor speeding vehicles, their registration numbers and the time of day.

That information will be passed to police who will contact offenders breaking the 20 mph limit.

Cllr Bullard said: “We’ve had a worrying spate of accidents in the town and we’re hoping we’ll curb this with the help of the agency and police. Co-operation has been very good.”

Last week, a car ploughed into The Green, knocking down wooden posts and
flattening shrubbery. It was the second recent crash in that area.

A 43-year-old man was charged with drink-driving and will appear at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court on July 19.