Taxpayers have been burdened with over £100,000 in repair costs for Hawkenbury Bridge in the last five years. This high spending has sparked intense local demands for Kent County Council (KCC) to impose a lower speed limit at the crash blackspot in Tunbridge Wells.
The recurring accidents at the narrow structure have forced the council to spend large sums of public money on emergency fixes. Critics argue that the current speed rules are not strict enough. They believe a new, lower limit is needed to control traffic and stop the continuous cycle of damage and expensive repairs. Local groups are strongly pushing for KCC to set a 30mph limit along the road leading to and over the bridge to make the area safer.
The High Cost of Repeated Crashes
The spending of more than £100,000 covers urgent structural repairs following many vehicle collisions since 2019. This means the bridge costs the council over £20,000 every year, on average, just for accident damage.
Local campaigners point out that this money could be used for other vital road maintenance across the county. The high, repeated cost shows that simply fixing the damage is not a long-term answer. It signals a major ongoing safety problem that needs a different solution.
KCC’s Budget Strain
Kent County Council manages thousands of miles of roads and over 2,200 bridges. While the council invests millions in general road maintenance, the costs for accident damage are often difficult or impossible to recover from drivers.
The £100,000 spent on Hawkenbury Bridge takes up a large portion of the money KCC sets aside for non-recoverable structure damage each year. This makes the bridge a clear problem area that demands a focused and preventative plan, rather than just ongoing reactive repairs.
The Safety Campaign: Why 30mph is Needed
The main goal of residents and community groups is to get the speed limit reduced. They believe that vehicles approach the bridge, which is in a busy residential area, too quickly under the current rules. Lower speeds, they argue, are essential to stop more crashes and protect people using the road, including those walking and cycling.
The campaign for a lower limit is part of a wider effort to improve safety across Tunbridge Wells. Local leaders have actively supported proposals to reduce speed limits on several nearby routes where serious crashes have happened.
A Hazard Due to Narrowness
Hawkenbury Bridge was not built for today’s high volume of traffic, especially large lorries. The road is narrow. When drivers approach it at higher speeds, the risk of side-swipes and head-on collisions increases greatly at this tight spot.
The area’s County Councillor, Martin Brice, and local MP, Mike Martin, have spoken out for the need for action. They stress that safety must come before speed in areas where people live. Campaigners feel that a 30mph limit is not just a rule, but a necessary fix. It matches the road’s tight design and the high number of nearby homes. Lowering the speed would give drivers more time to stop and reduce how badly damaged the bridge is if a crash does occur.
The Council’s Process for Changing Speed Limits
Kent County Council is the official authority for roads. It must follow set legal steps when it changes any speed limits. This process involves creating a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).
Any speed change must be based on strong evidence. This includes accident data over several years, as well as looking at how the road is used. While the £100,000 repair bill strongly shows a major problem, the council must still follow rules set by the government’s Department for Transport.
Time it Takes to Change the Rules
KCC officials recognise the local concerns and the high financial costs of the repairs. However, making a speed reduction permanent often takes time. The process includes several main steps:
- Technical Check: Experts must look at traffic speeds and accident records, and check if the change is possible from an engineering point of view.
- Public Input: The council must announce the plan and let residents and local groups formally share their opinions or objections.
- Final Approval: The council committee then makes a final decision based on all the facts and public feedback.
Local campaigners are asking the council to move faster. They argue that the clear financial waste and danger to the public, backed up by the more than £100,000 in repair bills, is reason enough to approve the lower speed limit immediately. They point out that every month of delay means the bridge remains vulnerable to more costly damage.
A lasting fix at Hawkenbury Bridge would not only save taxpayer money but also make the local community much safer, bringing the costly cycle of repairs to an end.
