News
Concern over route of new Thames crossing
TONBRIDGE and Malling Coun- cil has serious concerns about the traffic impact on Bluebell Hill, should a new Thames crossing be built near Gravesend. While the council fully supports
the need for a third Thames cross- ing and Highways England’s pre- ferred location (a bored tunnel to the east of Gravesend) the council wants the Department of Transport to bring forward schemes which will upgrade the A229 and routes between the M20 and M2. The council’s director of plan-
ning Steve Humphrey told the cab- inet: “There is significant concern that without investment to improve key points in the highway network, severe and unacceptable impacts on the A229 Bluebell Hill and the Lord Lees roundabout, junction 6 of the M20 and, to some extent, the A228 will result.” Consultants working on the scheme have said they do not think improvements to the A229 are nec- essary and would make the project unaffordable. However, they have said they could be considered in the future.
Douglas Horner, a director of Trenport Investments, which is be- hind the Peters Village project at Wouldham, has criticised this ap- proach as “short-term and piece- meal planning”. Tonbridge and Malling has
urged Highways England to revisit the plan and consider including im- provements to the A229. “Given the existing congestion around Junctions 5/6 of the M20 and Blue Bell Hill/Lord Lees roundabout (M2 Junction 3), the opening of the Lower Thames
The route of the Eastern Southern Link is the option preferred by Maidstone Council for the proposed Thames Crossing
Crossing without upgrades to one of the most direct routes to it from the south will only exacerbate con- gestion issues, resulting in a dam- aging impact on the local economy,” said Mr Humphrey. The council believes most drivers
using the Eurotunnel at Folkestone or the port of Dover would use the new tunnel, putting the brunt of extra traffic onto the A229. Highways England identified
three potential routes for a twin tunnel between Essex and Kent and came down in favour of option C.
downsmail.co.uk Charity shop
for homeless MAIDSTONE’S newest charity has signed the lease on its first shop. MADM– Making a Difference to Maidstone – was set up to help the homeless and disadvantaged in the town and works with other charities to help those who live on the streets or sleep rough. MidKent College
has refurbished the shop, in Church Street, as a commu-
nity project, and students are lend- ing a hand with interior design. The charity needs awarehouse or storage space for furniture and goods that have been donated. Charity founderAmanda Sidwell
has befriended most of the town’s homeless, through her work with the winter shelter scheme, meals for the homeless at the Baptist Church and Salvation Army and CRI Maidstone (theWest Kent Re- covery Service for drug and alcohol abusers), and is known by the soup run teams and numerous associ- ated organisations/charities. She is also looking for volunteers
to help man the shop, which was due to be open by Easter. Email her at
mad_amanda@hotmail.com or call 07769 268962.
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Visit our showroom at Warmlake Business Estate, Maidstone Road, Sutton Valence, Kent ME17 3LQ Malling April 2016
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