THE Queen's planned visit to a Medway Scout centre has been scrapped...because of roadworks. She had been scheduled to open the £20-million centre at Chatham's Buckmore Park on March 28.

But at the request of the park's owners her visit has been put off until the A2/M2 widening scheme is complete. Instead, the Queen will visit the University of Greenwich at Chatham Maritime, honouring her commitment to visit Medway during her Jubilee year.

Buckmore manager Peter Stevens said: "We wrote to the Lord Lieutenant's office asking for a postponement until the roadworks were finished and the area was more presentable. The whole area does not present itself very well at the moment. We want it to look the part. We want it to look nice for her. When Her Majesty comes now depends on her diary."

It is believed the visit had been pencilled in the royal list of engagements for more than a year, but could now be set back several years. Final work on the overall widening scheme is not expected to be completed until March 2003.

Instead of going to Buckmore, the Queen will spend her time in Medway unveiling a commemorative plaque at the Medway campus. She will also meet youngsters at Medway Children's University and visit the Natural Resources Institute, which carries out research to help alleviate Third World poverty. Time allowing, she will also help plant the first of 50 oak trees to commemorate her 50-year reign.