Next Steps For Cavell Way

This report has been prepared by Caroline Field of Moat Housing Society, Sevenoaks, Kent and was published in March 2000.

Please use the navigation below to move to the pages of interest:
Introduction
The Planning Process - Getting Everybody Involved
Events
Planning For Real
The Concept Plan
Next Step For Cavell Way

Moat Housing Society has secured SRB match funding for a contribution to initial traffic calming in 2000-01. A contribution from KCC Highways is also being negotiated.

Following consultation, the concept plan is being used to draw up detailed costs and proposals for the first stage of work i.e. traffic calming at the entrance to the estate. DETR are indicating that they will consent to a 20mph limit initially with the possibility of an additional 10mph 'advisory' limit. Once traffic calming is in place, a 10mph mandatory limit should be possible.

We will then be able to raise finance for further aspects of the scheme. The priority for future funding will be the children's play area. Discussions are already taking place between Swale Borough Council and Moat Housing Society on the future management and development of the open space, owned by the Council.

We are also discussing the possibility of a good neighbour agreement or a change to the tenancy agreement to ensure that newcomers to Cavell Way are committed to complying with the Home Zone

Lessons Learned

We also realised the importance of consulting on the estate, hence the porta-cabin. Moat are now considering acquiring an adapted bus as a permanent resource for consultation and communication with residents.

We have had to trust in informal feedback. Through the year, the Residents Association has delivered several leaflets around the estate to keep everyone up to date. Moat staff have also conducted a survey of car ownership to assist the highway planners, a useful side effect of which was the opportunity to talk to everyone about the Home Zone. The informal doorstep feedback from these exercises is invaluable.

We have been able to involve children in the consultation.This is partly because the concept of Home Zones seems entirely rational and obvious to all the children. However the various art activities, their model building and Ross' inclusion in the Netherlands trip has generated a high level of interest and understanding among the children.

The trip to the Netherlands functioned partly as a team building exercise and has facilitated subsequent joint working. Multi-agency working is also easier when, as in this project, all the participants (including the Residents Association) have access to e-mail.

The Cavell Way Play Area

Benefits to Moat Housing Society

In the long term Moat Housing Society anticipates that the improved physical environment will lead to greater resident satisfaction on Cavell Way and hence a more stable community. However, there have already been gains to Moat from the planning process:

Click through to:
Introduction
The Planning Process - Getting Everybody Involved
Events
Planning For Real
The Concept Plan
Next Step For Cavell Way

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