Highways Agency

Why did the Highways Agency change the A21 at Flimwell from a dual carriageway to a single lane dual carriageway?

For a number of years there has been a high accident rate along this stretch of the A21, largely due to drivers impatience to overtake early before it was safe to do so at the approaches to the dual two section. By reducing the carriageway from two lanes to one it has effectively reduced the number of accidents at this location.

A number of accidents also occurred at the junction with Lady Oak Lane caused mainly because drivers coming out of Lady Oak Lane had to cross a relatively wide carriageway. These manoeuvres caused a number of serious accidents at the crossing point but conditions have improved considerably since the recent changes there.

The proposal to reduce the carriageway from two lanes to one was one of a number of possible improvements considered. All options were carefully assessed in terms of feasibility, reduction in accidents and costs. The decision to proceed with the lane reduction scheme was made after wide consultation with local residents including a local school who took a keen interest to see things improve there, local representatives, the Police and the then local MP Archie Norman, all wanting to see an improvement to road safety at this location.

With the opening of Lamberhurst Bypass located about 3miles north of Flimwell, this provides the most appropriate and by far the safest location for overtaking. 

The reduction from two lanes to one along this stretch of A21 has, in turn, dictated a reduction in the national speed limit from 70mph to 60mph. The Kent Camera Partnership is going to undertake mobile camera observations on the approaches to Flimwell to supplement the measures that we have taken.

The single lane dualling of the A21 at Flimwell was not undertaken until the Lamberhurst by-pass had been officially opened to the public. The new Lamberhurst by-pass is approximately 2.3 km in length and was opened on 23rd March 2005. The length of carriageway that has been reduced to a single lane dual carriageway is approximately 1.3km; work for this scheme commenced on 9th May 2005 and was completed on site on 10th June 2005.

All these works were programmed in this order so that inconvenience to the travelling public was kept to a minimum. After the lane reduction at Flimwell the total length of dual carriageway on the A21 is greater than prior to the Lamberhurst by-pass being opened.

Has this scheme made a significant difference to road safety?

A Stage 4 Road Safety Audit will be undertaken to review the changes made. This will be carried out as with all improvement schemes, when 12 months of Personal Injury Accident (PIA) data, after completion of construction is available.

We will also undertake a review of the lengths of carriageway at both ends of the new single lane dual carriageway to establish if the improvement scheme has had an impact on the road. This is a statutory requirement for all improvement schemes and will again be reviewed when 36 months post construction PIA data is available.

In all cases there is an approximate three month delay in the Personal Injury Accident Data becoming available.

Major Projects Briefing for: Area 4 Public Exhibition of Flimwell Cross Roads Junction Improvement Proposals, starting 29 March 2006

The Government commissioned the Access to Hastings Multi Modal Study, which was completed in November 2000 and led to the commencement of the A21 South of Pembury to Hastings Study in November 2001.
 
The Highways Agency has developed a long-term strategy for the A21 route from the M25 to Hastings.  Whilst the strategy is to improve and upgrade the route to current standards, the improvements will need to be implemented progressively with priority given to those sections in most need of development and where the greatest benefit can be achieved.
 
Following the 2004 spending review the A21 schemes were remitted to the regions for prioritisation.  In January this year the South East England Regional assembly, SEERA, published their list of priorities up to 2011. For the A21, they are as follows:

Scheme	Period of Work
A21 Tonbridge to Pembury	2010/2011
A21 Baldslow Junction Improvements	2010/2011
A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst	2011/2012

The A21 Flimwell to Robertsbridge Improvement scheme was not included in the initial list of priorities.  Further recommendations, from the SEERA Regional Transport Board, for expenditure after 2011, are expected later this year.

The Minister is currently considering the advice from SEERA on the regions' transport priorities, including schemes on the A21, as well as other schemes in the South East. It is anticipated that the Minister will make an announcement later this year.

A21 Flimwell to Robertsbridge

This scheme was identified in the A21 South of Pembury to Hastings Study.  This study was initiated following the Secretary of State's July 2001 announcement on the Access to Hastings Multi Modal Study.  A public consultation exercise was undertaken between November 2002 and March 2003 on a possible alignment for the Flimwell to Robertsbridge scheme (and also, jointly, the Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst scheme).  Following consultation a modified alignment, taking on board the comments received during consultation, was announced as the Preferred Route in February 2005.

No date has been set for the delivery of the scheme, however during consultation we said that the earliest the scheme could be delivered was 2010/11.  However, in line with the government's latest spending review announcement, Ministers have asked the regions for their views on the priorities of Highways Agency schemes on regional routes (the A21 is a regional trunk road) and LTP major transport projects. 

The South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) issued their advice to Ministers on schemes for delivery in the period up to 2011 at the end of January 2006; Ministers have yet to make announcement on this.  However, the A21 Flimwell Robertsbridge scheme was not identified for delivery in this period. 

SEERA are expected to provide advice to Ministers on schemes for delivery in the period 2011-16 later this year; following which, Ministers are expected to make a further announcement.  It is possible that the Flimwell to Robertsbridge scheme will be identified for delivery in the period 2011-16