downsmail.co.uk


Flyover plan to ease congestion on A249


A JUNCTION which is a major cause of delay for those travelling intoMaidstone is to be upgraded. Plans have been published for a


major facelift of junction 5 of theM2 and a flyover at Stockbury round- about. Kent County Council has agreed


to give another £2.5mto theDepart- ment ofTransport’s £15bn roads’ in- vestment scheme. The flyover (right) will create an


uninterrupted link for drivers stay- ing on the A249 and will free up space on the Stockbury roundabout. An early suggestion simply to up-


grade Stockbury roundabout was rejected by motorists last autumn, 68% of whom felt this was not enough to improve traffic flows on the vital interchange between two of the county’s busiest roads. SteveHoesli, fromHighwaysEng-


land, said: “These improvements will simplify journeys for people travelling to andfromSittingbourne, Sheppey, Sheerness andMaidstone. “About 2,000 people took part in


the consultation,making it clear that these improvements aredesperately needed.” As well as the new flyover, there


will be two newdedicatedsingle left turn filter lanes for traffic travelling between the A249 and the M2. The roundabout will be freed up for drivers making other turns at the junction, and for local traffic. Better and safer links will also be created for cyclists, pedestrians and horse


riders in the vicinity of the junction. The public will have further op-


portunities to comment on the pre- ferred route, known asOption 4H1, with public information events likely later in the year or early in 2019. Highways England says work on


the upgrade could start as early as March 2020 andwould be delivered in a phased approach lasting 18 months.


News Teeth aacker


POLICE are hunting for aman said to have launched an attack inwhich his victimlost teeth. The man described as white and


about 5ft 10in tall, is saidto have car- ried out the earlymorning attack in Week Street, near its junction with King Street between 2-2.30am on Monday,May 7. His victim, a man in his 20s, was


hit andfell to the floorwhere hewas allegedly kicked, suffering bruising, cuts and the loss of teeth. Witnesses are asked to call Kent


Police on 01622 604100, reference YY/15464/18, orKentCrimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


Man charged


A 44-YEAR-OLD Maidstone man has been charged after reports of at- temptsweremade to break into cars. Officers responded to calls of a


man acting suspiciously in Cham- berlainAvenue onMay 26 and a re- port of attempts to break into cars in Roseholme. Jason Barnes, of Westmoreland


Road, faces two charges of vehicle interference, one of shoplifting, and two counts of assaulting police. He was remanded in custody by


Medway magistrates and is due to appear in court on June 6.


Maidstone July 2018


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