Businessman’s tough questions on radio lead to pledge on action

THE head of Kent County Council pledged to support our campaign to rid the High Street of lorries, after he was given a grilling on live radio.

Businessman Geoff Newman, who runs Acorn Recruitment, in High Street, called BBC Radio Kent to quiz council chief executive Paul Carter on what could be done to cut the number of HGVs using Sevenoaks town centre as a shortcut to and from the M26.

Mr Newman said: “My business occupies a 16th century building and we’ve HGVs whistling through the High Street, mounting the kerbs and blocking the road up.

“We’re in a timber-framed building with no foundations. The road was designed for pony and trap, now we’ve got articulated lorries coming round very slight corners, mounting the kerb.

“I’m a parent, and there are others pushing buggies, and I’ve nearly been taken out by the things. It’s a genuine health and safety issue.

“There’s a perfectly good by-pass to use.”

Referring to a campaign, jointly backed by the Chronicle and the Sevenoaks Society to ban unnecessary lorries from the upper end of the town, he added: “We’ve had a little bit of noise from the council, but we’ve not heard anything for a while.

“What’s being done to stop the damage to our historic town?”

Mr Carter responded: “There’s an increasing number of large HGVs going down roads that are totally inappropriate.

“We need to get the signage right and get some compliance so they’re not going down that road without a good reason.

“We need to make sure the law is in our favour. This is a work in progress, and I’ve every sympathy with you.”

Pushing for results, not words, Mr Newman continued: “It’s great you share sympathy with our plight but what action is being taken at the moment?”

Mr Carter replied: “There have been a significant number of conversations and papers looking at doing what I’ve said. We need to accelerate the process and reverse the trend which is going the wrong way.

“We need to look at enforcement where there are better and more appropriate routes.”

Evidently unaware of the 1,000-name petition already commissioned by campaigners, Mr Carter then suggested: “There are new rules governing petitions, so get a petition going, up in the Sevenoaks area or whatever, and it will aid and abet our cause.

“We’ve a good relationship with the Department of Transport. Let’s lobby and use people power to get common sense.”

Mr Newman noted: “It’s great that you’re saying these things but we’re not getting that from your line managers.”