High Street, Wouldham Experimental Traffic Scheme

Update: 23 June 2023

Since the installation of the experimental scheme, we have been notified that the temporary barrier, designed to discourage drivers from passing through the ‘no entry’ point at the High Street junction with School Lane, has been repeatedly moved. This is unlawful unless the person/persons have permission from the Highway Authority and carry the appropriate accreditations to carry out the work. The moving of the barrier has caused problems for the buses turning left from School Lane into High Street and interrupting the service.

We have attended the site on several occasions to put the barrier into its correct position, however it continued to be moved. The barrier has now been removed from site as we cannot allow bus services to be affected by this scheme.

Instead, we will be changing the junction to give priority to traffic travelling downhill on School Lane and following the road round to the right to continue towards Borstal. Vehicles will also have priority in the opposite direction. Anyone approaching the junction northbound from High Street will be required to give way, turning High Street into a side road.

The ‘no entry except buses’ restriction will remain in place, with an additional sign advising drivers coming downhill on School Lane that they cannot turn left (except buses). It is hoped that this work will be an improvement as drivers will now be encouraged to continue around the corner in both directions and would need to change their route if they intend to pass through the ‘no entry except buses’ restriction.

We understand that the removal of the barrier has caused some concern locally, and as such, are working with our contractors to have the change in the junction priority carried out as soon as possible. Given the pace with which we hope to deliver this work, we would like to assure all residents that permitted/restricted traffic movements will remain exactly as they were when the barrier was in place, so there is no change to the fundamental basis of the scheme.

Update: 14 June 2023

Since implementation of the scheme, we have been notified of some unforeseen difficulties associated with the changes of School Lane to a ‘one way’ road between Oldfield Drive and Pilgrims Way. We are keen to work with the community to address concerns where we can and following your feedback, we have decided to remove this element of the trial.

The intention of this part of the scheme was to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic volumes in an eastbound direction, following the ‘no entry’ restriction at the northern end of High Street.

To help continue to ease this impact, the ‘no right turn’ restriction from Burham Road into School Lane remains in place. Drivers are still able to use Wouldham Road if they require access to destinations on or via School Lane from the north. The remainder of the scheme remains in place.

We are carrying out this consultation to hear your feedback on an experimental traffic scheme in Wouldham and Burham.

High Street, Wouldham is a relatively narrow road linking Knowle Road with School Lane. In recent years, the construction of Peters Bridge (creating a new link from the A228 across the River Medway) and the Peters Village development has led to an increase in the amount of traffic using the High Street.

The effect of the Experimental Order would be to introduce a:

• no entry point at the northern end of High Street, Wouldham for vehicles travelling south from Borstal. This will be where it meets School Lane. There will be an exemption for buses, who will be permitted to proceed through the no entry point, allowing bus movements along the High Street to continue in both directions.
  
  
• one-way restriction on School Lane from Oldfield Drive to Pilgrims Way. This is to facilitate the free flowing of vehicles away from Wouldham as a result of the no entry scheme.
  
  
• no right turn restriction from Rochester Road into Scarborough Lane and Church Street (for vehicles travelling southbound along Rochester Road). This is to prevent drivers using these narrow roads in an attempt to reach Court Road.

This order has been made for the following reasons, to:

• reduce congestion
• reduce pollution from vehicle emissions.

The Order will be implemented on the 31 May 2023, when you will see the changes in place. This will be on an experimental basis for a period of eighteen months, but can be removed sooner if needed. It is expected to run for an initial six months until midday on 30 November 2023.

Full details, including the scheme plan, can be found in the Public Notice and Statement for Reason document.

Any person wishing to object or support the Order before it is made permanent can do so via our response form below.