4. Living in a Healthy Environment

[Rod Shelton]

4: LIVING IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

This section is about making Otford good for a healthy life-style. Can we expand opportunities in Otford to keep fit and active?

These are the concerns that the community indicated as most needing action: (These are the views indicated by the majority of numerical responses received to the questionnaire)

A CYCLE PATH BESIDE THE A225

IMPROVING FACILITIES FOR CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS

These were all the verbatim comments added to the questionnaire: (We would point out that these are individual comments and do not necessarily represent the views of the majority of respondents)
Question 4: Living in a healthy environment
Cycle path

· Is there any possibility of better provision for cyclists along Station Road?

· Pilgrims Way West is particularly dangerous for cyclists due to traffic speeds.
· Shared use of the footpaths would answer the problem.
· Tudor Drive to Kemsing footpath should enable cyclists to use it.
· A cycle track is needed on the main road between Twitton Lane and the turning to Polehill.
· Walking and Cycling are healthy etc but too much is conceded to the cycling forum. A substantial minority of young cyclist use pavements etc.
· Uses footway when cycling along A25.
· Cycle path good idea, but only if path continues through Otford itself round back of roads, i.e. off roads/footways. Roads and pavements too narrow for cycles – causes traffic bunching, increases risky overtaking.
· Encourage cycling but no need for special provisions everywhere except on the Sevenoaks-Otford Road.

· Cycle paths are badly needed in Otford.
· 2ft wide would be dangerous on the A225. It would need to be separate.

Sports
· If OBM were ever to re-locate this would make a great sports centre.
· A squash club would be really nice in our community and be very popular if we can find the space.

Indoor sports
· If you want facilities for indoor sports, move to a town!
· Renew negotiations with SDC/KCC to make village school facilities available to residents. The is poor provision for women’s sports at present.

Recreation Ground

· Recreation Ground must be open to ALL, as a safe place for individuals and groups of all ages to exercise or just walk. Don’t turn into exercise yard with huge car park.
· We need a safe rec area not for sports but for dog-lovers and walkers – Community Woodland is useless.
· Don’t overuse Rec ground – leads to congestion, loss of green space for residents.
· Need more actives for ages 6+ in playground. Need drinking fountain and more trees/shade.
· More recreational facilities may be desirable but the rec is already used to maximum. Resist further incursion for car parking.

Hale Lane Recreation Ground
· Make more use of recreational ground at top of Hale Lane

Pavilion

· Pavilion good, but vandalism?
· Dangerous if anywhere near public green areas – hard balls flying around. Use for more widely played sports.
· The cricket association rejected the idea of sharing the new pavilion when it was first suggested. Why raise it again?

General

· More provision for allotments.
· Reclaim Chalk Pit from vandals. Keep lawn mown, rubbish cleared, fix goal nets permanently. Introduce guided walks, as in Sevenoaks?
We are so close to Sevenoaks I don't think there is a need (for additional sporting facilities