The 20’s Plenty for Hadlow group, led by parish councillor Mike Harvey, is looking to gain support for an online petition to make Kent County Council lower the limit in three locations.
Within the central conservation area they want it brought down from 30mph to 20mph; and for motorists entering and exiting the village, from 40mph to 30mph.
In the de-restricted zone from Ashes Lane by The Rose Revived pub to just beyond Cuckoo Lane they want to change it from 60mph to 40mph.
Mr Harvey said: “Hadlow village is a hive of activity, and young and old deserve the right to a safer future. But it’s a major road with a lot of traffic, especially lorries, coming in from Maidstone.
“Our Speedwatch team regularly record up to 20 vehicles per hour travelling at up to 45mph in the 30mph zone of the A26 through Hadlow.”
The group is aiming for changes as far as Tonbridge itself, not just in the village, because Hadlow’s parish boundary is on the fringes of the town.
Mr Harvey said: “That’s where there have been some really serious accidents and fatalities in recent years.
“It just doesn’t make sense to have a 60mph limit for such a short distance.
“It’s like negotiating Brexit, you start with your wishlist and hope to get what you can. If it’s 60mph down to 50, then that’s something.”
The campaigners held an event in the village square on October 12 to explain the proposals, show what the Speedwatch group does, and to encourage more volunteers to join the team.
The Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling, Jill Anderson, came to support them, along with her fellow borough councillor for the ward of Hadlow and East Peckham, Janet Sergison.
The Mayor said: “I was delighted to be able to support the 20’s Plenty group and was impressed by the large number of people who agreed with the proposal.”
The campaign is also supported by the three schools in the village. The campaigners visited the primary school, where the children did a project on the subject and drew posters to illustrate it.
For more information, visit hadlow.20splentyforus.org.uk
