Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘We had to beg, borrow and steal to fund projects’
Council chief on paying for vital infrastructure
A council chief says the authority has had to “beg, borrow and steal” to get funding for major transport infrastructure projects.
Tracey Kerly addressed business leaders at the Growth of Ashford conference hosted by the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce last week.
The Ashford Borough Council chief executive said delivering Junction 10a of the M20 and new rail spurs at Ashford International station were top priorities.
She said: “Connectivity is a really important issue, and with Junction 10a MP Damian Green has helped us enormously.
“But last year there was a big funding gap on the project, and we didn’t have the money for it. So we approached the Department for Communities and Local Government to find a way of filling the gap.
“If we can’t deliver Junction 10a, then the growth of Ashford can’t happen. We filled the funding gap, but it will take us a long time to pay it back.”
Junction 10a is intended to relieve pressure at the existing Junction 10, and council planners say it is vital so roads can cope with traffic from housing estates such as Finberry, Waterbrook, Bridgefield, and Chilmington Green.
It is set to cost more than £100 million, with £35 million coming from Highways England, £35 million from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and millions from section 106 contributions made by housing developers.
Meanwhile the rail spurs and signalling at Ashford International station have had to be brought in so that the new models of the Eurostar trains can stop there.
The scheme has involved Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council working alongside Network Rail to deliver the £10 million upgrade.
Ms Kerly added: “We had to beg, borrow and steal to make sure we can continue to have Eurostar stopping in Ashford.”
MP Damian Green said Junction 10a has huge job creation potential and said the issue has been discussed for the past 20 years.
Now the decision for the junction is in the hands of Secretary of State Chris Grayling, who has until Friday, December 1 to rule on the plans.