by Alex Claridge

aclaridge@thekmgroup.co.uk

The opening of the new A2 slip road at Wincheap has been delayed over safety concerns.

Councillors and those involved in the project had been told that the opening of the £1.9 million road would take place on August 15, but this was cancelled.

Tory-controlled Kent County Council now says it cannot give a fixed date for the opening of the road, which connects Thanington Road and Wincheap on the A28 with the London-bound carriageway of the A2.

KCC is blaming the delay on a safety audit demanded by the Highways Agency. It is rejecting claims the opening of the road has been put off because senior KCC representatives are on holiday and therefore are not able to attend a formal ceremony to open the road.

However, the delay has enraged the city council’s Lib Dem group leader and member for Wincheap Alex Perkins.

He said: “I’m not so bothered about what the reason is as the fact the road is sitting there unopen and unused.

“The aim of these slip roads is to relieve the centre of Canterbury, but even though it’s done, it’s not open and the relief of Canterbury is being delayed.

“To see it sitting there not being used is ridiculous.”

KCC says the safety audit by the Highways Agency concluded that clearing plants from the road and changes to white lines and signs need to be done before the slip road can open.

The authority reckons this can be done overnight this week.

David Brazier, the deputy cabinet member for highways, said: “It has always been KCC’s intention to open the slip road as early as possible and we had provisionally hoped to do this last week, until the safety audit took place.

“We are liaising with Canterbury City Council on the arrangements for a formal completion ceremony for the slip road in September, on a date to be arranged.

“We very much hope everyone involved with the project will be able to attend.”

Work on the scheme started in late September last year.