Survey work to be carried out on Junction 5

19th February 2015
Survey work to be carried out on Junction 5 imminently

Following several months of lobbying, survey work is about to be carried out on Junction 5 of the M2. Cllr Andrew Bowles, Leader of Swale Borough Council made a formal announcement at this week’s Full Council meeting (Wednesday 18th February).

According to his Leader’s Statement he said: ‘As Members are aware, we have been intensively lobbying to persuade government that Junction 5 on the M2 is a major constraint on regeneration and development within the Borough and that structural improvements need to be made to it. In this lobbying we have been ably supported by Kent County Council as Highways Authority and by Gordon Henderson MP.

‘I am delighted, therefore, that in the Autumn Statement, just before Christmas, the Government included Junction 5 on the M2 within its road investment strategy with a substantial funding allocation which is intended to provide a long term structural solution.

‘It is encouraging that the Highways Agency has already held meetings with both Swale and KCC Officers. Such a speedy action from the Highways Agency is both unusual and welcome. Plans are in place for early survey work, although inevitably a major project such as this will take time to come to fruition, but I am very pleased that it is now firmly on government’s agenda as a priority project. I was pleased to be briefed on progress so far on site by officers in the company of Gordon Henderson, Kent County Council Member David Brazier and Ward Councillor Nicholas Hampshire."

Gordon Henderson, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey added: ‘When the Government announced it was to spend up to £100 million on upgrading the Stockbury Roundabout I thought that inevitably there would be a delay before the Department of Transport got the ball rolling. So I was delighted that when I met with officials from the Highways Agency a couple of weeks ago they told me they had already arranged to hold discussions with both Kent County Council and Swale Borough Council to get the local take on what improvements are needed to solve the problems that have beset the roundabout for so long.

‘Those meetings have now taken place and were the first steps in determining the specification for any modifications that might be needed to the approach roads to the roundabout. The process of designing and delivering road improvements are notoriously drawn out. However, I will be monitoring progress to ensure that decisions as to the best solution to the long standing problems are taken by the Department of Transport without undue delay and that work takes place as soon as possible.’