A CONSULTATION into traffic calming plans for the villages of Ryarsh and Birling, near West Malling, could lead to rat-runners being booted out of the two areas.

Residents were told at a special meeting of Birling Parish Council that Kent County Council is to carry out a survey into traffic in the two villages later this year.

It will measure the amount of traffic using Ryarsh Road and other small country lanes in the villages, which are often used as a cut-through by motorists who want to avoid major junctions in Leybourne.

The move follows a parish council campaign for road calming, including chicanes at both ends of Birling and a new roundabout in Ryarsh .

Cllr Matthew Balfour, chairman of Birling Parish Council, said: "It was a very encouraging meeting. The survey has to be done during school term time, because the roads are busier then, but we are hoping it will be done by the end of the summer.

"If it is, then it would be nice if we could start work on the traffic calming next year."

He added: "We have been told to wait until the research is finished before we start looking at what calming measures are used."

KCC have also told villagers that partnership funding could be used to pay for the traffic scheme. The parish council had originally considered paying for the work itself from reserves or by asking villagers to contribute through council tax.