Transport Connections

Kent has very few north/south arterial routes and in West Kent the routes we have are badly in need of improvement to meet the demands of the future.

Congestion on the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury has long been a problem and we continue to work with partners to lobby Government to bring forward much needed work to dual this section.  There will be increased demand on this route once the new hospital at Pembury is operational and people travel from more widely across Kent to access specialist services. 

The hospital will also bring increased traffic from Maidstone along the A228.  This road is a key north-south artery for Kent as the main route running from the Isle of Grain southwards to connect to the A21 trunk road at Pembury.  Much of the route is already dual carriageway but at Colts Hill the road remains a single carriageway and causes delays and environmental impacts for the residents living close to the road. The West Kent Partnership is therefore continuing to lobby for the resources to be made available to Kent County Council from Government to provide a bypass for this section of the road system.

It is vital that these weaknesses in our transport network are addressed by Government so that businesses in West Kent are not disadvantaged by slow and unreliable journey times and that businesses and residents alike are able to reach Pembury Hospital swiftly, safely and without avoidable delays.

Swanley	35 Minutes
Sevenoaks	30 Minutes
Tonbridge	43 Minutes
Tunbridge Wells	51 Minutes

Car Journey times and distances

	Gatwick	Channel Tunnel	Port of Dover
Sevenoaks	32 Minutes	58 Minutes	65 Minutes
	25 Miles	51 Miles	59 Miles
Tonbridge	41 Minutes	54 Minutes	61 Minutes
	31 Miles	49 Miles	57 Miles
Tunbridge Wells	36 Minutes	65 Minutes	69 Minutes
	34 Miles	47 Miles	55 Miles