Sevenoaks Draft Cycling Strategy consultation

This consultation closed at 5pm on 21 November. The draft strategy will be reviewed in light of the comments received and Member approval will be sought to formally adopt the Strategy.

Kent County Council (KCC), in partnership with Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) has produced a Cycling Strategy for Sevenoaks District. 

The central aim of the Strategy is to increase the number of people choosing to cycle in the district.  It is primarily focused towards improving facilities for so called "maybe" cyclists i.e. those who have not previously considered cycling. 

There are many benefits associated with increasing the levels of cycling for the community of Sevenoaks including cutting congestion; improving health, reducing carbon emissions and improving accessibility. The production of a Cycling Strategy for the district was also included as an objective in Kent's third Local Transport Plan (LTP3) and the Sevenoaks District Sustainable Community Action Plan (2010-2013).

The central aim of the Cycling Strategy will be achieved through action in the following five key areas:

1. Developing a joined-up network  - developing proposals for new routes in the main urban areas of Sevenoaks, Swanley and Edenbridge as well as a number of longer routes
2. Safer cycling - ensuring infrastructure is well designed, prioritising routes on quiet residential streets away from dangerous main roads and junctions, and providing road safety education
3. Improvements to cycle parking - identifying locations for additional cycle parking facilities and positioning them to maximise security
4. Promotion - raising awareness of cycling and its benefits amongst the community
5. Maintenance - ensuring existing and any future facilities are well maintained

Throughout the production of the Strategy Kent County Council and Sevenoaks District Council have worked closely with local cyclists who have played a key role in identifying potential improvements and we would now like to hear your views on the document and the proposals contained within. 

An Equality Impact Assessment Screening has been completed. Our initial findings have been included in the consultation. This consultation will also help to inform the full equality impact assessment for the Sevenoaks Cycling Strategy. If you have questions concerning this, please do not hesitate to contact sevenoakscycling@kent.gov.uk.