Bluebell Hill junction can be an absolute nightmare.
It actually sits just outside Faversham and Mid Kent, but my constituents in Boxley, Walderslade and Lordswood have to deal with it every day - as do countless people driving through the county on their way to or from Dover.
Things are bad enough as it is, and when you consider the impact that the Lower Thames Crossing and any local development will have in the coming years it's no wonder that residents are desperate for a solution.
That's why earlier this month I chaired a roundtable with representatives from Boxley Parish Council, Maidstone Borough Council, Kent County Council and National Highways to talk about where plans for an upgrade to the junction have got to.
It was great to hear a consensus in the meeting that getting an upgrade is more pressing than ever, and that KCC have submitted two options to the Department for Transport to consider in the Government’s third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3). KCC have provided a stack of information about their proposals which the Department will now go away and review.
After the roundtable I called a meeting with the Roads Minister later this month, to press our case in person.
Getting this upgrade is good for local residents as well as our national road network, and I'm going to make sure he hears that.
