It has come to light that Savills, the agents acting for the East Malling Trust, are approaching local residents in East Malling village to buy pieces of land to make a partial one way system. We have seen a map but the writing is very small and overall it does not copy clearly and so we have produced an interpretation of it so that you can see what The Trust seems to have in mind (see map below). As we understand it, vehicles coming down Wateringbury Road from Wateringbury towards East Malling would have to turn right down the narrow road of Gilletts Lane then up the other side of this steep valley lane to turn left into Rocks Road. They would then rejoin the route at the low level railway bridge leading into the High Street. Meanwhile, traffic heading south to Wateringbury would go up Chapel Street which would be one-way in that direction.

Alongside the introduction of this one-way system, single yellow lines would be installed on High Street with existing residential bays removed save for the existing disabled bay. The lay-by on High Street just north of the railway bridge would become a pick up / drop off point for the station and the disabled bay here would be relocated. Parking bays in the narrowest part of Chapel Street would be removed, with a limited number of bays remaining further south. Thirty two parking spaces would be provided in a new car park on the site of houses on High Street on the approach road to the Village Field Car Park.

David Thornewell, Chairman of the Parish Council said “This plan looks an attempt to cut the traffic impact of the proposal for a new village of 1,600 new houses on East Malling Research land at Kiln Barn Road. Plans displayed at the exhibition earlier this year included a ‘spine road’ connecting the A20 at the Poppyfields roundabout to New Road, East Malling. This would result in totally unacceptable high volumes of traffic being funnelled into narrow village roads. This one-way plan would not solve the problem and would have very damaging effects for residents.”

The Parish Council has written to the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council asking if they are aware of this proposal.

We are sure residents will have very strong views about these proposals and we would be very pleased to hear them.