New M2 link backed but who will pay for it?

A NEW road between the M2 and A2 south east of Sittingbourne has been identified as a key project for further development.

Swale Council has published a draft transport strategy, detailing major routes for consideration over the next five years.

The A2/M2 link is to be "further investigated" as part of the council's plans for dealing with the increase in car usage and ownership. It expects the route will start at the A2 near Bapchild and finish at a new junction with the M2, about two miles from junction five, the Stockbury turning.

The new road would join up with the yet-to-be-built Northern Relief Road that will run between East Hall Farm, Murston and Bapchild.

The strategy says: "This will provide Sittingbourne with a new access to the M2 and relieve the A249 interchange."

Council leader Cllr Andrew Bowles added that a southern relief road was necessary to cope with predicted extra traffic generated by the relief road.

Any such route would cost mil-lions of pounds and it is not clear where funding would come from.

A feasibility study has already concluded that paying for the road by building new homes would not be viable.

• What do you think? Does the town need another road, or is it encouraging more traffic? Write to us at 19 High Street, Sittingbourne ME10 4BB, e-mail newsdesk. ekg@kentregionalnewspapers.co.uk or call the newsdesk on 475411.


This article is used with the kind permission of The Gazette & Times