Highways England has now published the Orders for the M2 junction 5 / A249 Stockbury roundabout improvements scheme under the Highways Act 1980.
The scheme includes a new flyover which will create an uninterrupted link for drivers staying on the A249 and will free up extra space on the Stockbury roundabout.
Publication of the Orders follows the statutory process that would give Highways England the authority to make the necessary alterations to the existing highways network. This will enable the M2 junction 5 / A249 Stockbury roundabout scheme to be built using powers available to them under the Highways Act 1980.
There is a representation period of 6 weeks
Highways England has made and submitted both the Side Roads Order and Compulsory Purchase Order to the Secretary of State for Transport for confirmation. The associated Section 10 Line Order has been published in draft by the Secretary of State for Transport.
Hard copies of the Orders can be viewed at:
Sittingbourne Library, Central Avenue, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 4AH
Public consultation report
Following the consultation held in late 2017 on the various options to improve the M2 Junction 5 / A249 Stockbury roundabout, Highways England announced a Preferred Route in May 2018 which identified a modified version of the flyover option - this is called Option 4H1.
The results of the public consultation have been used to inform the development of this scheme.
What's next?
There is a 6 week period for interested parties, including members of the public, to submit comments (representations) on the scheme or lodge an objection. Objections and representations must be made in writing to:
Post: The Secretary of State at the National Transport Casework Team, Tyneside House, Skinnerburn Road, Newcastle Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7AR
The deadline for receipt of all comments or objections is 25th July 2019 at midnight.
Following a review of all comments received and objections made, the Secretary of State will decide upon whether a Public Inquiry will be held.
Why is this scheme needed?
The M2 Junction 5 / A249 Stockbury Roundabout cannot cope with existing traffic flows. At certain times of day, there are high levels of congestion and delay on the A249 southbound (towards Maidstone), northbound (towards Sittingbourne) and on the approaches to the junction and on the exit slop road from the M2 westbound (towards Stockbury Roundabout).
Congestion is expected to worsen in the future due to planned development and population growth. Traffic is already diverting away from the M2 junction 5 / A249 Stockbury roundabout to alternative rural routes to avoid the congestion, putting undue pressure on local roads not suited to large volumes of traffic and increasing safety risks.
The junction is one of the top 50 national casualty locations on England’s major ‘A’ roads and motorways - there were 111 personal injury accidents between January 2011 and December 2015 and nearly half occurred during morning and evening peak periods.
Aims
The Aims of the scheme are to:
• Improve journey times: the improvement scheme will reduce delays meaning people will have quicker and more reliable journeys.
• Make journeys safer: improving the junction will improve safety for all road users.
• Support economic growth: increasing capacity at the junction will support the future housing and employment growth in the area.
• Help cyclists and pedestrians: working with the local authorities, Highways England will aim to improve facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorised users.
• Deliver high standards of highway design: resulting in a scheme that is in keeping with the local environment, minimising environmental impacts and where feasible make conditions better.
The scheme in detail
Details of the proposed option include:
• Existing roundabout replaced with a new grade-separated interchange, which is a flyover, to provide free-flowing movement on the A249.
• 2 new dedicated free-flowing slip roads: A left turn for traffic travelling from the A249 southbound to the M2 westbound and a left turn from the A249 northbound to the M2 eastbound.
• The existing connection from the Maidstone Road to the A249 Stockbury Roundabout to be closed, and Maidstone Road to be re-routed to link with Oad Street.
• The existing junction of Oad Street with the A249 to be closed. A new link to be provided south of the existing Oad Street to connect directly with the A249 Stockbury Roundabout
the Honeycrock Hill junction with the A249 to be closed for safety reasons.
The scheme aims to:
• Improve journey times.
• Make journeys safer.
• Support economic growth.
• Improve drainage and reduce flooding as result of rainfall on the highways.
• Create additional public rights of way and support adjacent schemes to improve access for non-motorised users.
• Improve access onto the A249 for properties lining the southbound carriageway.
• Mitigate impacts on the visual landscape by reducing the height of the flyover, incorporating a cladding sympathetic to its surroundings and incorporating trees as screening.
• Replace any lost habitats or vegetation as a result of the scheme.
• Avoid any impact on ancient woodland or veteran trees.
Full details of the orders can be found on the Highways England website at: https://highwaysengland.co.uk/projects/m2-junction-5-improvements
Petition to Government
Whilst the design has been agreed, further Government funding of over £20m is needed. To assist with this, Swale Borough Councillor James Hunt has setup a 6 month long petition to Government at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/264893, which reads:
“Fully fund Highways England's proposed improvements to the M2 junction 5”
“The new design, which includes a flyover, will address the appalling safety record of the existing junction, enable economic development in Sittingbourne and Sheppey, improve air quality, and provide wider network resilience ahead of delivery of the Lower Thames Crossing.”
Stockbury Parish Council held an open meeting in response to the scheme's announcement and with the support of residents, MP Helen Whately, KCC Councillor Shellina Prendergast and Maidstone Borough Councillor Patrik Garten, they have begun lobbying for a bridge or underpass to be added to the proposed new road layout. All have concerns that as a result of the upgrade scheme, the village could be cut off and become dangerous and difficult to get to. The Parish Council say they acknowledge the need to modernise the Stockbury roundabout, but cannot support a scheme which they believe will irreparably harm the cohesion of the community, which has small businesses and significant settlements on both sides of the A249.
Upchurch Matters
