YOUR VIEWS

The petition has sparked plenty of reaction on the Kentish Express Facebook page, with readers posting their thoughts. Lucy Cox: “Four years ago I had an accident there when I was 36 weeks pregnant with my son. Someone accelerated into the back of me when I was waiting to pull out. The car was written off. Luckily we were both OK, but it could have been a very different story if I’d been pushed out a little further into the dual carriageway. I know other people who have had similar accidents. Something needs to be done, but this petitioning has been going on a while now so I won’t hold my breath.” Lynn Cauldwell: “At least a run-up so you can merge at speed. This is such a dodgy corner – it’s like trying to join a motorway at a standstill. With Smyths Toys Superstore there this is going to be so busy. I don’t know why they don’t open the back entrance to church road for people to exit.” Tony Smith: “The simple, safe and cheap solution is to make the near side lane from the Orbital roundabout a left-turn lane only, and close the right-hand-turn lane from junction 10. That way all the traffic from Barrey Road has a clear exit.” Alicia Martin-Batt: “It’s not just the shoppers or workers but also the people who live in the village. Many have lived there since before the business park was built. Every time they leave they have to queue or plan their day to avoid peak times which at this time of year is a nightmare.” Julie Coleman: “That’s the trouble, people really don’t know how to observe and drive at the same time. It would be better with a roundabout, but knowing the council they will put in a set of traffic lights, as if we don’t have enough already.” Jason Scott: “Why build and expand here in the first place? It’s a ridiculous road full stop and I won’t travel there anymore simply because I don’t like my chances.” Sharon Swandale: “Highways England has assessed the junction and says it isn’t dangerous enough compared with other junctions in Kent. It has made the safety alterations recommended such as clearing vegetation on the verge and repositioning the main access sign so traffic on the main road can see it earlier. Unless someone can convince the highways team this will come to nothing.”