Abandoned trailer adds to chaos at troubled junction

An abandoned lorry trailer caused further chaos at a busy road junction which has been branded a “death trap”.

The trailer was left in Barrey Road at the entrance to the Ashford Retail Park off the A2070 in Sevington at the weekend.

Last week the Kentish Express reported on motorists’ concerns at the junction, which has now been the subject of three petitions calling on Highways England to take action.

Then, on Saturday, Ken Paine reported that the trailer had been left in the road, causing problems for motorists trying to get in and out of the busy site.

He said: “This trailer was left by a German driver and has caused traffic problems all day long. While I was calling the police I spoke to a B&M manager who told me they reported it first thing in the morning.

“The manager was told the police could do nothing about it as it is foreign and not on double yellow lines. This is not good enough.

“Because of the new toy store opening, it is crazy and really busy at the weekends. Bar- rey Road is narrow, so lorry trailers being left without the police taking action is causing unnecessary congestion.

“It seems crazy to me that nearly every day lorries are parking on both sides of the road. I guess it is because there is a 50-metre break in the double-yellow lines.

“Perhaps the answer is to make all of Barrey Road double yellow. That should resolve the problem.”

The third petition calling for action was set up by Stacey Smith and has nearly 3,500 signatures calling for either a roundabout or traffic lights for the junction.

Her campaign has been supported by Mayor of Ashford Cllr George Koowaree, who has campaigned on the issue for 12 years.

He said: “A petition I organised was presented to the council’s joint transportation board two years ago.

“We took MP Damian Green to the junction to see how unsafe it is, and his secretary says he has written to the Department for Transport about it. Highways England have told me that traffic lights are not value for money.”

What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@ thekmgroup.co.uk

Traffic builds up at the junction, and inset, the lorry trailer

Cllr George Koowaree last year with a copy of his petition to improve the junction; right, how we reported the story last week