A series of consultation meetings will be held in Ashford for residents to discuss plans to build a new junction off the M20.

Highways England are holding five drop-in sessions in January and February to talk about the proposed M20 junction 10a Improvement Scheme.

The plans have been described as a vital development for the town and would be built half a mile south-east of the existing junction 10.

Construction would include a two-way 40mph link road built on a new bridge between the M20 and the A2070 at Sevington, a roundabout over the motorway and new traffic signals installed at the end of Church Road.

A Highways England spokesman said the proposals were intended to relieve traffic congestion and the design had been revised a number of times.

He added: “Residents can see our plans, speak to the project team and give us their views at a number of events.”

Part one of the proposal will be funded by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), a regional group made up of
business representatives and council leaders.

SELEP has previously offered to provide almost £20 million to deliver the scheme.

The proposals have been in the pipeline for years, having originally emerged from a South Ashford Transport Study in 2001, but they have since drawn criticism from local people.

In 2014, 230 residents signed a petition opposing the new junction, saying the plans would “cause chaos” on the surrounding roads.

However, council officials claim that the plans are crucial to provide access to developments around the town such as Cheeseman’s Green and Sevington.

Highways England has said it will publish its responses to the consultation in June 2016.

The government will then make a decision on the plans before construction is allowed to commence, which could take up to 18 months.

The public consultation meetings will take place as follows:

• Thursday, January 21, from 12pm to 8pm at the New Ashford Market (Amos Hall), Orbital Park, Ashford.
• Friday, January 22, from 10am to 8pm at the New Ashford Market (Amos Hall), Orbital Park, Ashford.
• Saturday, January 23, from 9.30am to 3.30pm at the New Ashford Market (Amos Hall), Orbital Park, Ashford.
• Wednesday, February 3, from 11am to 3pm at Asda, in Kimberley Way.
• Wednesday, February 10 from 11am to 3pm at the Ashford Designer Outlet, in Kimberley Way.

For details of the junction 10a scheme, visit the website.