A three-year wait has ended at last to open Betteshanger Business Park and provide much-needed jobs for the Deal and Sandwich area.

Barriers have been taken away from the new road on Fowlmead roundabout and traffic can now reach the former colliery site along the route.

Anne Denne, a member of the Betteshanger regeneration team, said: “The new road will also increase access to Fowlmead Country Park for walkers and cyclists."

Betteshanger Colliery closed in 1989 and since 2000 the regeneration team has been working with the South East England Development Agency and the district council to create a business park, a community space and Fowlmead Country Park.

Northbourne Parish Couuncil chairman Steve Morgan also campaigned for its immediate adoption and said the long wait had been frustrating.

He welcomed the opening of the road and said he was hopeful it would bring employment to the area.

District council leader Paul Watins said: “The formal opening of the road has taken a considerable time to achieve. Local people will be pleased to see that the works have finally been completed and access to a fully serviced business park, even in these difficult times, is encouraging.”

See this week's East Kent Mercury for more details.