Four Elms is the rural village we chose to buy our first home together and start our family in, a quiet place outside of the busy commuter towns of the area. In the four and half years since we moved to the village we have seen the traffic through the crossroads increase year on year, and with this the speed that cars travel on these roads has also increased. I have seen countless accidents at the crossroads, with cars ending up in front rooms, front gardens and the village pond. We have seen our car and neighbours’ cars smashed into whilst parked outside our house, resulting in damage to wing mirrors, bumpers and even write-offs. 

But Friday evening was the last straw for me. A driver speeding through the village at the end of the day hit my open car door as I stood behind it, lifting my sleeping toddler from his car seat. Very luckily the only injury was my own bruised head and sore neck and shoulders, and my son was only awakened by my scream. The driver said she didn’t even see my car door or me, or realise what had happened. She was travelling at a speed which meant she didn’t stop her car until the opposite side of the crossroads, some 200 metres down the road. I dread to think what would have happened if she had hit me 30 seconds later when my son was fully in my arms or if the car door hadn’t taken the brunt of the impact. 

I am petitioning Kent County Highways, Sevenoaks District Council and Hever Parish Council to commit to making the roads in Four Elms safe so that families like mine do not have to worry about safely getting their children to and from school let alone into and out of a parked car in front of their house. 

I have heard from multiple people that there haven’t been enough traffic fatalities in the village for the Highways department to commit to further traffic management, which makes me feel sick. How many people are too many people to get injured or killed? 

I suggest the speed is reduced to 20 mph through the village as speed seems to be a factor in every incident I have witnessed. I also would like traffic calming measures introduced at a minimum on Ide Hill and Four Elms Roads where traffic does not have to stop at the crossroads. My suggestion is a give way system as you enter the village but I would happily discuss other options with the appropriate parties. 

Please support me in keeping Four Elms safe.