by Emma Groveegrove@thekmgroup.co.uk

Two battles to get new road signs installed have finally come to an end – both with successful outcomes.

Visitors and residents will once again be greeted by a Welcome to Sheppey sign which was put up last week on the Island side of the A249, just as you come over the new bridge.

It comes after the original sign vanished after being taken down by Carillion in 2005 as it realigned the roads when the Sheppey Crossing was built.

Despite the best efforts of Swale council, Carillion and MP Gordon Henderson, the missing sign never materialised, so a campaign to get a new one was launched.

The new greeting cost £6,344 and has been paid for by grants of £2,000 each from Cllr Ken Pugh and Cllr Adrian Crowther from their Kent County Council highways fund. Swale council stumped up the rest.

Swale council’s cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr John Wright, said: “Sheppey is a special place and deserves a special sign.

"I am delighted it has been erected and I am grateful to Cllrs Pugh and Crowther for their help.”

Meanwhile, Mr Henderson has also had a triumph after a five-year battle to get the directions at Queenborough Corner changed.

When the new A249 was built, the Highways Agency installed signs which directed Sheerness visitors through Halfway, with Brielle Way shown as the route to Sheerness Docks.

This angered Halfway residents due to the increased volume of traffic going along Queenborough Road, which was already busy.

These signs were changed last week and now direct Sheerness-bound motorists along the A249, with only Minster traffic shown along the A250.

A sign directing lorries heading for the Rushenden Industrial Estate along newly opened Thomsett Way, rather than through Queenborough, has also been erected.

Halfway Houses Residents’ Association secretary David Jones said: “Many visitors followed the Sheerness sign, causing even more congestion at Halfway, because they were not aware it was just as easy to get to Sheerness by following the Sheerness Docks sign.

“This was a good example of the problems which can be caused when the Highways Agency fails to do its homework before putting up new signs.”

• What do you think of the new sign? Write to us at 44 High Street, Sheerness ME12 1NL or email timesguardian@thekmgroup.co.uk