Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘10 weeks of chaos’
Anger as bosses confirm when Newtown Road will close again for more Outlet works
A main road which was shut for eight months is to close for a further 10 weeks in May, sparking anger among motorists.
Drivers faced 32 weeks of traffic hell last year after contractors shut Newtown Road in April as part of the Designer Outlet expansion.
It is now set to be closed again from Monday, May 13 to Friday, July 19, causing delays across the town for two-anda-half months as drivers find alternative routes.
Gary Taylor, landlord of the Alfred Arms in Newtown Road, says he is not looking forward to the upcoming closure.
“We had it for eight months and I think it’s absolutely disgusting that they will shut it for another 10 weeks,” he said.
“People just weren’t turning up to the pub, and people had to pay a huge taxi fare to go all the way around just to get back into Ashford.
“It’s not good that they need to shut it again.
“I think that they’re looking after one business - the Designer Outlet - and letting other businesses suffer.
“The amount of time they had that road shut, they should have got everything completed that was needed.”
A Designer Outlet spokesman was unable to confirm which ‘improvement works’ will be carried out, but it is believed a pedestrian crossing will be put in close to the junction with Romney Marsh Road during the closure.
Traffic calming measures are also expected to be installed.
Mr Taylor added: “I don’t think the Newtown area will benefit from it, it’s just for the Designer Outlet.
“We’re not getting anything out of it except for grief.
“As you come out of Newtown, turning right there’s a great big lump and I know that bus drivers are having difficulties there.”
What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, Unit 4, Park Mall shopping centre, Ashford, TN24 8RY or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk