A Long-Awaited Milestone: New Zebra Crossing Completed on Dartford Road

The crossing, installed at the busy junction with Hitchen Hatch Lane, Park Lane and Vine Court Road, was completed on Saturday 21st February.

This is a milestone that has been a long time coming. Back in the autumn of 2022, local residents launched a petition demanding traffic calming measures and a 20mph zone along Dartford Road — gathering an impressive 1,800 signatures.

In December 2022, the Sevenoaks Joint Transportation Board recommended the creation of a zebra crossing. 

And yet, despite that clear mandate from the community, it has taken years of persistent effort from the Lib Dem ward councillors to turn that recommendation into reality.

The £100,000 project was funded through a combination of sources: £55,000 secured by KCC from Active Travel England, £25,000 from Sevenoaks Town Council's Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds, and a further £20,000 from Sevenoaks District Council's CIL funds. 

CIL is a charge levied on new property developments, with the proceeds reinvested into local infrastructure and community projects. 

Town Council leader Claire Shea (LD, Northern Sevenoaks) said: "This is something residents have wanted for years and we're delighted to deliver for them — at no cost to the council. 

“Delivering a safe crossing at Dartford Road has been a longstanding priority for the town council. The new zebra crossing will provide a safer route for pedestrians at this busy junction, particularly benefiting students travelling to and from school and commuters heading to Sevenoaks Station."