The Sevenoaks Joint Transportation Board is scheduled to discuss a proposed walking, wheeling, and cycling route between Otford and Sevenoaks, as well as applications for disabled parking bays and the highways forward works programme. The meeting will also include updates on actions from previous meetings and a review of the board's work plan.

Here are the topics that are scheduled to be discussed in the meeting:

Otford to Sevenoaks Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Improvements

The board is scheduled to discuss a recommendation to the KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation to support a walking, wheeling, and cycle route between Otford and the Bat and Ball junction. If supported, the detailed designs can be developed further, taking into account concerns raised during the consultation.

The proposed route aims to connect Otford village centre to the Bat and Ball junction, linking attractions like Otford Palace and Palace Park Wood with commercial areas including Sainsbury's, Aldi, McDonald's, and Riverside Retail Park, as well as two train stations. The route is intended to be part of a wider network of walking and cycling routes, linking up with the Sevenoaks East to West route.

The report pack states that a route connecting Otford with Sevenoaks was first identified in the Sevenoaks District Cycling Strategy (2012) and included in the Sevenoaks District Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) in 2019. In 2023, Sevenoaks District Council completed a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for Sevenoaks Urban Area, which prioritised the Otford to Sevenoaks route second, behind the Sevenoaks East to West route.

A public consultation on the proposals took place for six weeks, between 6 June and 18 July 2025. According to the consultation report, 33% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the proposals, while 62% disagreed or strongly disagreed. Of those who responded, 35% said they would use the proposed route for walking, wheeling, or cycling, while 57% said they would not.

The five most common issues raised during the consultation were:

1. The need and demand for the scheme
2. The cost of delivering the scheme
3. Increased congestion
4. Barriers to change
5. Safety concerns

The report pack notes that Active Travel England (ATE) has consolidated the Active Travel Fund and Capability Fund into the Consolidated Active Travel Fund (CATF). KCC has been awarded £4,453,591 of capital funding from the CATF. In order to progress a construction bid for funding for this project, KCC needs to have done a full Value for Money (VfM) exercise, have completed detailed designs and have undertaken scheme engagement with the community.

The report pack states that a trial lane closure of the inside lane may also take place to assist in better understanding the potential impact of the lane closure. This would be combined with operational maintenance activities.

Disabled Person Parking Bays

The board is scheduled to note applications received for disabled persons parking bays (DPPB) within the district. These applications have been assessed against criteria set by Kent County Council.

The report pack lists applications that did not satisfy KCC's assessment criteria and have been declined, including applications for:

• Bazes Shaw, New Ash Green
• Hope Cottage, Ide Hill
• Chancel Close, West Kingsdown
• Childsbridge Lane, Seal
• Barnetts Road, Leigh
• High Street, Westerham
• Swanzy Road, Sevenoaks

The report pack also lists an application that satisfied KCC's criteria and has been approved for progression:

• Prospect Row, Swanley Village

The board is also scheduled to note requests to remove disabled parking bays in:

• Forge Lane, Horton Kirby
• Ide Hill Primary School, Ide Hill
• Ryewood Cottages, Rye Lane, Dunton Green
• Penenden, New Ash Green

Highways Forward Works Programme

The board is scheduled to receive an update on the Highways Forward Works Programme for 2024/25 and 2025/26.

The report pack states that in summer 2021, Kent County Council published a Highways Asset Management Plan (HAMP)¹, which included a five-year Forward Works Programme for the years 2021/22 to 2025/26. The programme is subject to regular review and may change for a number of reasons including budget allocation, contract rate changes, and inflationary pressures.

The report pack includes details of planned road, footway and cycleway renewal and preservation schemes, drainage repairs and improvements, street lighting replacements, transportation and safety schemes, developer funded works, bridge works, traffic systems, combined members grant schemes and road markings.

Work Plan

The board is scheduled to review its work plan for the upcoming meetings. The current work plan includes items for discussion at the meeting on 4 December 2025, such as the Highways Forward Works Programme 2025/26, an update on the Sevenoaks Town extension to the 20mph speed limit, an on-street EV charging update, and a Bat & Ball Junction update. The work plan also includes an active travel update and public transport plans for the meeting on 16 March 2026.

Matters Arising/Update

The board is scheduled to receive an update on actions from previous meetings. The action sheet included in the report pack lists one outstanding action: for the Senior Programme Manager (KCC) to arrange a meeting between highways and planning officers regarding issues at Bat & Ball Junction.