A plan to halve the national speed limit on a busy road has been revealed, so houses can be safely built and lived in.

Kent County Council (KCC) has shared details of its proposed scheme to cut the 60mph limit on part of Minster’s Scocles Road on Sheppey.

The plan is to reduce the speed to 30mph on a 135 metre stretch between the junctions of Elm Lane and Harps Avenue.

KCC proposes to make the order due to the housing development in Elm Lane, known as ‘The Slips’, on the corner of Scocles Road, which was granted outline permission for 62 homes in 2017 and is due to be built soon.

The authority said it was to avoid “danger to persons or other traffic using the road”, for “preserving or improving the amenities of the area” and about keeping pedestrians safe.

Cllr Elliott Jayes (Swale Ind), who represents Sheppey Central, which covers Scocles Road, said the speed reduction should be made for the entire road, not just part of it.

He said: “Reducing the speed limit here is a good start, I just wish KCC had extended their efforts to the whole road and I will be writing to them to let them know this.

“It’s a good stretch but it seems a wasted opportunity to leave the rest of the road, from Elm Lane to the junction with the Lower Road. Residents are consistently complaining about speeding cars there.”

He added: “We’ve got people walking along Scocles Road where there is no footpath and there’s a blind bend.

“Minster-on-Sea Parish Council have been working with KCC to reduce the speed limit on the whole road, but KCC seems to lack the funds and, without more injuries or deaths, say it isn’t a priority.”

Back in 2017, concerns were heard that the homes would add traffic to the already congested Barton Hill Drive and Lower Road junction.

Other councillors felt the size of the scheme was too large.

Aside from The Slips development, three other planning applications for the Elm Lane area have been submitted to Swale council of late.

Provectus Developments Ltd, based in Maidstone, has submitted an outline planning application to build up to 44 homes on a site in Elm Lane – with access via Drake Avenue.

Meanwhile, another developer has sought permission to build 73 homes, directly next to a site earmarked for 150 more on the same bit of land next to Elm Lane.

A KCC spokesman said: “The 30mph speed limit extension to Scocles Road was proposed as part of the outline planning application at The Slips.

“The plans show there will be housing along both sides of Scocles Road, new accesses onto it and a gateway at the junction with Elm Lane – thereby changing the road environment consistent with a 30mph zone.

“Officers accept the reduction in the speed limit, which has been proposed by the developer, would be acceptable over the length that has been suggested.”

The proposed speed reduction documents can be found here. They will be available for public inspection until Monday, September 20.

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