Kent County Council manages one of the UK’s largest and most complex road networks. With Traffic Regulation Orders created and maintained across 12 districts, keeping data consistent, accessible and legally accurate had become a growing challenge.
To future-proof the county’s TRO management, Kent partnered with Buchanan Computing — now part of Causeway Technologies — to digitise, consolidate and manage all static, moving and speed limit orders within Causeway ParkMap with the support of our expert consultants.
The challenge
Before 2023, TROs across Kent existed in multiple formats — some digital, many paper-based, and often managed independently by each district. This fragmentation created significant operational risk:
- Siloed working: Each district operating independently, creating visibility gaps and conflicting restrictions.
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Operational efficiency: Different formats made it difficult for officers, enforcement teams and the public to access accurate data quickly.
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Knowledge loss: As experienced officers retired, their expertise was often lost, leaving new recruits to navigate legacy systems and disconnected records.
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Legal risk: Outdated legal references or conflicting restrictions created potential compliance risks.
- Administrative burden: Slow responses to Freedom of Information requests and public queries consuming significant staff time.
Kent recognised the need for a standardised, sustainable process. As Robin Chantrill-Smith, Senior Parking & Traffic Regulation Officer, put it: "The goal is to combine a mountain of data into a digitised format, accessible online, and displayed in a way the public can readily understand."
The solution
Working in partnership with Causeway's Consultancy Services team, Kent consolidated all TRO data across the 12 districts into a single, map-based resource. While Causeway ParkMap provided the platform to visualise restrictions such as yellow lines, parking bays, one-way systems and speed limits in one place, providing full visibility for both officers and the public.
“Bringing all 12 districts together into one shared system has transformed how we work. Everyone now has the same clear view of restrictions across the county.”
Robin Chantrill-Smith, Senior Parking & Traffic Regulation Officer at Kent County Council.
Since 2023, the project has continued to evolve:
- Regular data consolidation: TRO data is reconsolidated every few years, bringing together all amendments into one clean, legally compliant document. This keeps data accurate and easy to maintain.
- County-wide adoption: All 12 districts are now fully trained and actively using Causeway ParkMap for parking, waiting and moving traffic orders, supported by the county’s Highways team.
- Public transparency: On-street restrictions now align with legal record, supporting fairer, faster enforcement.
“We’ve been working with Kent for years now,” said Alexis Newport, Head of Traffic Order Consultancy Services. “They were ahead of the curve from the start – fully committed to creating a consistent, legally sound base for their TROs.”
The real-world results
Kent is among the UK authorities leading on proactive digital TRO management. By moving from paper to Causeway ParkMap, the council has achieved:
- A single, county-wide digital record of all TROs & D-TRO readiness
- Regular consolidation cycles to maintain accuracy and legal compliance
- Faster, more confident decision-making for officers and enforcement teams
- Knowledge retention across districts, reducing risk from staff turnover
“This has had a positive impact on the day-to-day running of the service,” Robin shared.
“We now have all our permanent TROs in one place that is open for all users, both internal and external. The public can self-serve, which has cut back on the time it has taken in the past to reply to customer questions and FOIs (Freedom of information).”
"The public can self-serve, which has cut back on the time it has taken in the past to reply to customer questions and FOIs."
What’s next?
The council’s digital TRO project has set a new standard for accuracy and collaboration. By investing in consistent processes and shared data, they have reduced administrative burden, improved public transparency and built a robust foundation for D-TRO compliance.
Looking ahead, Kent plans to extend its digital approach even further.
“We would like to have all the districts and boroughs’ off-street car parks on the system and be fully integrated with CausewayOne Network, so that all traffic orders are in one place and more user friendly for our customers,” said Robin. “It’s also a goal to have the most important road markings across the county mapped out in one system.”
Kent County Council's proactive mindset has turned digital transformation from a one-time project into an ongoing way of working.
By making accuracy, consistency and foresight part of everyday practice, the council sets a new benchmark for digital highways management across the UK.
About Causeway ParkMap & Consultancy Services
Causeway ParkMap helps you create, manage, and enforce every type of Traffic Regulation Order in one place, all clearly mapped and easy to manage.
Our in-house consultants work alongside you to plan, draft, and deliver TROs with confidence. From Control Parking Zones reviews to D-TROs and enforcement strategy, we help you stay compliant, consistent, and ready for what’s next.
Find out how Causeway ParkMap & our Consultancy Services can help your team build the same confidence and D-TRO readiness Kent has achieved.
Speak to one of our experts today.
