News Award names


NOW in their 25th year, the Try Angle Awards are searching for young people, aged 11 -18, who “try their best” for the community. Friends, teachers, socialworkers,


youthworkers,parents, guardians, and grandparents have until June 30 to nominate candidates in eight categories for the Kent County Council-backed project. They are sports, art,music, com-


munity action, good friends and young carers, personal develop- ment, courage and positive inter- vention. Go to www.kent.gov.uk/tryan- gle formore information.


Geing crafty


AT A loss for something to do while you are soaking up the sun this summer? How about making goods for the Holy Cross Christ- mas Craft Fair? Pauline Johnson andSue Jackson


are co-ordinating craft making at the Bearsted church, and are look- ing for volunteers to work on handmade stock right now. The pair have even produced


packs with instructions andmate- rials to get you started. If you can spendsome of the summermaking Christmas goodies for the event on December 7, visitwww.holycross- church.co.uk


Prayer help


MAIDSTONE street pastors are looking to the villages to find vol- unteerswilling to join their prayer division. Nowin their 11th year, the teams


need prayer pastors to support their front linework, helping those living, partying and working on Maidstone’s streets at night. The commitment is once a


monthfromabout 9.45pmona Sat- urday to 3amSunday. There is se- cure parking at the base and lifts can be arranged for those without transport. Email Nigel Downes at maid- stone@streetpastors.org.uk.


JoinGuides


GIRLGUIDING Kent Weald County is looking for young girls to join its ranks. It is also keen to re- cruit adults or older teenagers (aged 14+) as volunteer helpers. The district’s North Downs


Branch covers Bearsted, Harriet- sham,Hollingbourne,Lenhamand Penenden Heath. If you can help, visit the national youth move- ment’s website at www.girlguid- ing.org.uk/get-involved/become-a- volunteer.


14 Maidstone East July 2019


downsmail.co.uk


Roundabout plans to cutA249 congestion


THIS is the first viewof a plannedmakeover for one of Kent’s busiest road junctions.


Highways England intends to


overhaul the A249 Stockbury roundabout with a free-flowing road layout that would slash journey times. The current junction, say trans-


port bosses, is creaking under the weight of tens of thousands of ve- hicles which use it every day. And,with local council plans to


pile more housing into the area, Highways England is anticipat- ing “significant impact” on a junction already experiencing congestion if nothing is done. The government agency is not


alone in coming to that conclu- sion. Between September andOc- tober 2017 it held a public consultation which prompted nearly 600 written responses. Ninety-four per cent of those


who took part agreed action was needed. They cited issues around road safety, congestion, and in- creased traffic from housing and employment growth. Highways England’s answer,


pictured in this artist’s impres- sion, includes an enlarged round- about, with a new through route for A249 traffic. New dedicated left turn filter lanes for traffic travelling between the M2 and the A249. A new single lane slip


The proposed changes to the A249 junction at Stockbury roundabout


road from the M2 eastbound to the A249 northbound, would avoid the Stockbury roundabout altogether. There are also meas- ures to improve facilities for pedestrians. Highways England’s project


manager Camelia Lichtl said: “Having announced our pre- ferred options for this important investment last year, this is now a further opportunity for every- one to help us shape the detail of the individual scheme before we submit firm and final proposals


to the planning authorities. “We’d urge anyone with an in-


terest in the improvements to let us know their views. This is an important investment in one of the most important routes in the South East. “The improvements form part


of the current £15 billion govern- ment investment in motorways andmajorAroads, and are a vital element in Highways England’s support to unlock the potential for new homes and jobs by tack- ling congestion.”


Access to village ‘impossible’


VILLAGERS, businesses and homeowners are being urged to make their feelings known about major plans to build a newroundabout and flyover on theA249. The plan by Highways Eng-


land has drawn strong criticism from Stockbury, a parish that will be cut in half by the road, andwith excessive speeds up to the roundabout making cross- ing the busy dual carriageway even more hazardous, accord- ing to the parish council. A public meeting has been


called but a date was not set as we went to press. Parish council chairman Cllr PhilWoods (pictured) claimed:


“If the scheme goes ahead as currently planned byHighways England, access to the village will be virtu- ally impossi- ble from the southbound side of the A249. “This will


have a severe effect


nesses and every single one of us who lives in the parish.” He believes a safe crossing


point for the village at Church Lane will be essential. Local representatives want a road bridge over the flyover at


on local busi-


Church Lane, or a traffic light road crossing to meet the vil- lage’s needs. Cllr Woods said: “A bridge


costs money, and money is something that both Highways England and Kent County Council are desperate not to commit. As someone pointed out, Stockbury is up against the might of the Civil Service, Highways England and Kent CountyCouncil, likeDavid and Goliath. I take heart from the outcome of that one!” Highways England has of-


fered villagers a footbridge. More information is also


available fromphil_woods@bt- internet.com.


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