by James Scott
jscott@thekmgroup.co.uk

A disabled mobility scooter user has criticised the delayed opening of the M20 footbridge.

Len Bunn, 64, of Sandyhurst Lane, Boughton Aluph, has been left unable to ride his scooter into town or to his nearest supermarket since the footpaths and cycle lanes at junction 9 of the motorway were closed.

The pedestrian bridge would offer an alternative route to Ashford town centre for him and pedestrians and cyclists - except it's still not open.
Mr Bunn, who suffers from arthritis in his back and diabetes, said: “Being disabled and having to use a mobility scooter, I am now no longer able to get from my home into town using a cycle lane or disabled facility. It’s extremely frustrating.
“All in all the work at Junction 9, the Drovers roundabout and the supposed 'iconic’ bridge has been nothing but shambolic of late, to say the very least.”
“The use of £8m for the bridge in these very difficult financial times is questionable but to let this contract for completion to go on and on without keeping the public appraised of the situation is unacceptable.”
Mr Bunn, a retired managing director of several companies in the UK and overseas, added: “Once the bridge is open I won’t have a problem but the frustrating part is not knowing when it will open. All we ask is for a final date to be provided. Surely that’s not much to ask, is it?”

KCC said this week it is still unable to say when the M20 bridge will open.

Full story in today's Kentish Express.