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A petition demanding improvements at a “death trap” junction leading to and from a busy retail park has attracted more than 3,300 signatures in less than a week.
The campaign calls for a roundabout or traffic lights to be installed at the entrance/exit junction to the Ashford Retail Park in Sevington, where it meets the 70mph dual carriageway A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road.
It was started by worried mum-of-three Stacey-Louise Smith, 25, who lives in Kingsnorth, who said: “Something needs to be done about it before someone gets killed.”
The petition touched a nerve with businesses based on the retail park and adjoining business park whose workers get caught up in the massive queues of vehicles leaving the site and frustrated shoppers.
As of today the petition had amassed more than 3,300 pledges of support since its launch on Sunday.
Concerns have been raised by motorists in the past about the junction in Sevington alongside the A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road, leading to Junction 10 on the M20, but the online letter says that since the shop expansions on the retail park “traffic is just getting worse and worse”.
The junction currently operates a give way system to those already driving along the dual carriageway.
The change.org webpage also highlights concerns over safety with stationary vehicles joining the dual carriageway which has a 70mph speed limit.
Stacey-Louise Smith added: “I’ve grown up in Ashford and lived here all my life, and feel very strongly about this petition as that junction is a death trap. It’s just a nasty accident waiting to happen.”
The working mum of three added: “I haven’t even been over to Smyths toy store yet to start my Christmas shopping just because of the sheer volume of traffic and it’s gridlocked – you physically cannot move.
“Something needs to be done about it before someone gets killed. I have been witness to many small bangs, none serious but enough to write someone’s car off and ruin their day.
“If they want people spending money here then they need to get more parking and more traffic managed. Simple as that.”
Businesses and shops on the retail park and adjoining industrial estate have also expressed their concerns about the dangers and delays for their staff in getting to and from work.
A spokesman for Highways England said: “We are currently improving the junction by upgrading signage and increasing visibility for drivers. We will also be assessing the need for improvements at the roundabout as part of a larger future scheme.”