Retail park traffic is beyond a joke

With reference to your recent articles about the entrance and exit road to the Sevington Retail Park, off the A2070, the number of stores open on this industrial park has increased to almost full capacity with the inclusion of B & M’s, Costa, Carphone Warehouse, Hobbycraft, Tapi Carpets, Dreams and most recently Smyths Toystore.

Whilst I am in favour of providing local employment, the traffic situation has become impossible for us residents. Just today I had to queue on the A2070 before even turning into Barrey Road, it took me 15 minutes out of my precious lunch hour just to get home, a distance of 1 mile!

This was followed by joining a queue at the end of that hour just to get out of Church Road onto Barrey Road and then another queue to the A2070.

It is now beyond a joke, and the weekends are even worse.

We residents feel trapped in our own homes.

There is also the problem of the lorries parking both in Church Road and on Barrey Road on the approach to the A2070, making both roads just one way traffic and stopping traffic pulling into Barrey Road off the A2070. There is definitely an accident waiting to happen here.

I can only see that this will get worse with the oncoming Christmas shoppers.

Surely there has to be another route for us residents to use, why can’t the bottom of Church Road have the bollards removed so at least we can get in and out in the least possible time, it is ludicrous that this route could be available and relieve the congestion both on Barrey Road, the A2070 and J10.

I’m sure that if we were to withhold our Council Tax payments something would be done the following day.

This is a worsening problem and the authorities should have some thoughts for all the residents in Church Road, Kingfisher Close and Nightingale Close as well as all the workers trying to get on and off this estate. Liz Carter Sevington My thanks to Cllr Jim Wedgbury for pointing out my misunderstanding of the Sevington Retail Park situation with regard to Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council (Stop attacking us over junction risks, KE, December 1). Apologies to all concerned.

However, the question still remains ... who is responsible for lobbying Highways England?

I am sure the issue has been discussed many times but the A2070 and Sevington Retail Park exit remain a very dangerous place in which to drive.

Let us hope Highways England can identify the problem for what it is and put in a roundabout before too long. Jean Ifield Willesborough

Picture: Gary Browne FM4237946 Residents are fed up with jams around Sevington Retail Park