Update on HGV's Driving through Horton Kirby and at School Times.

Both the Anaerobic Waste Digester and the installation of Horton Wood Solar Park were given permission to use one specific route into and out of Stack Lane, Horton Kirby;

A225 - Station Road - Horton Road - Jacobs Lane - Stack Lane

Further conditions were placed on both sites following to be followed at all times.

Anaerobic Waste Digester: Application SE/18/293 (Kent County Council)

8. With the exception of the imported glycerol, only waste arising from within the farm estate (as identified in the planning application) shall be processed through the Agricultural Waste Digester hereby permitted.

11. No vehicles importing raw materials to the Agricultural Waste Digester shall enter the site, or those exporting the digestate fertiliser shall leave the site between the hours of 07.00 - 09.300 hours and 15.00 – 18.00 hours on weekdays.

Reason: In the interests of highway safety and to avoid peak traffic flow periods.

Horton Wood Solar Farm 22/02599/FUL (Sevenoaks District Council)

The wording of Condition 5 is as follows:
‘5. No development shall take place until a Construction and Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) shall be submitted and approved by in writing by the local planning authority. The CTMP should include the details contained within the draft CTMP dated July 2022 (HW005) as well the following additional information;

Detailed construction schedule to include the avoidance of HGV movements during school drop off and pick up times during (7:00 -9.30 and 15:00-18:00 during school term times) and the focus where practicable of deliveries during school holiday periods

Temporary signage and its location in relation to the agreed routing details to and from the site;

The Parish Council contacted the Planning Enforcement Department at both KCC and SDC after numerous complaints from residents that lorries were not using the permitted route and were seen in Jacobs Lane etc. at school times.

Both Councils have replied with the following:

KCC Planning Enforcement

This is exactly what we need to prove a breach of conditions. The photos are clear enough to identify the vehicles and locations concerned.

At the very least – all drivers should be issued with a map showing the permitted route. I will discuss this with the operator.

Please direct any complainants/informants to me so that I can build a case if needed. [email protected]

Senior Planning Enforcement Officer, KCC

Where possible, include date and time, location and photograph of the HGV with it's registration plate in the shot.

SDC

I wrote to the contractor advising that the Council had received evidence, including photographs, alleging that construction traffic associated with the solar farm development had not adhered to the approved Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP).

1. Commissioned a full review of all deliveries.
2. Issued formal warnings to all subcontractors found to be at fault.
3. Reminded all subcontractors of their responsibilities under the Construction Traffic Management Plan.
4. Suspended deliveries from the subcontractors found to be at fault until the investigation had been completed.
5. Banned two drivers responsible for the breaches from returning to the site.

The contractor has confirmed the following

1. Refusing entry to any driver who fails to comply with the approved CTMP, including those making deliveries during school drop-off and pick-up periods.
2. subcontractors to provide evidence that the CTMP has been communicated to their suppliers and drivers.
3. all delivery drivers to attend a briefing on the approved route before leaving for the site.
4. Revising and strengthening the vehicle sign-in process to improve vehicle tracking.
5. Providing an on-site traffic marshal to guide delivery vehicles from approximately 4 km from the site.

If you wish to make a complaint against a breach of planning control please use our on line form to help you provide all the information we need: https://www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/info/20069126/planning_enforcement/15/make_a_planning_enforcement_complaint

Planning Enforcement Officer SDC