Kent Highways has announced plans to tackle the congestion which has caused months of misery for Island motorists.

Traffic lights at the Lower Road junction with Barton Hill Drive, Minster, are to be re-phased.

And drivers heading down Barton Hill are going to be stopped from turning right.

From August 10, they will have to turn left and use the Thistle Hill roundabout to come back around.

It is believed the changes, which are part of a trial, will result in 300 extra cars an hour passing through the junction.

The section of Lower Road between the lights and Cowstead Corner sees massive logjams each evening as people return home.

As the problems have worsened this year, motorists have tried to find alternative routes.

This has led to Queenborough Road, Halfway, and Brielle Way, Sheerness, suffering problems, especially at rush hour and weekends.

Kent Highways’ move follows talks between MP Gordon Henderson and Kent County Council (KCC) leader Cllr Paul Carter (Con).

The trial comes as road bosses try and find a temporary solution ahead of a proposed roundabout which is planned for the junction.

This could take up to two years to complete. Welcoming the news, Mr Henderson said: “I am delighted something is happening at last. I have been calling for action for months.

“The detrimental effect the queues are having on residents, businesses and tourism is unacceptable and I am glad KCC has now agreed to trial a solution.”

There have been calls for the lights to be switched off completely but lengthy safety works associated with this would cost about £25,000.

If the trial is unsuccessful, KCC will revisit other options.

Minster Parish Council chairman, Cllr Ken Ingleton, said: “We have lobbied for months on behalf of our residents for something to be done.

“Motorists are even going via Sheerness to get around the jams, it’s unacceptable and has gone on too long.”

It is understood sophisticated bluetooth technology will be used to measure traffic flow during the trial.

Cllr Mike Whiting (Con), Swale joint transportation board vice- chairman, said: “The proposed changes will keep the green lights on longer along the Lower Road, which can only cut the length of the queues.

“I am glad KCC has at last grasped the urgency of the situation and hope the trial brings about instant improvement.”

Meanwhile, a letter expressing the urgent need for a Lower Road roundabout has been sent to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

Swale council leader Cllr Andrew Bowles (Con) said a bid for £1.264 million towards the cost had been submitted to the government.

He told Wednesday’s full council meeting he had written to Mr Grayling, who will be assessing a list of projects bidding for funding from a local growth fund before announcing which have been successful in the Autumn Statement.

Cllr Bowles said: “Swale council, Minster Parish Council, Gordon Henderson and the wider community have all been lobbying for a solution and over recent months we progressed.

“In response to the growing concerns, KCC had begun some initial design work focused on improving the junction between Barton Hill Drive and the Lower Road, changing from traffic light controls to a roundabout.

“The scheme has been judged as one of the highest priorities for Kent and Medway.”

Cllr Mike Baldock (Ukip) said the cost of the scheme seemed to go up and down with “alarming regularity”.

“Do we have a realistic fixed figure now for how much the junction will cost and how much we are expecting to have to get from developer contributions and where he expects the developer contributions to come from?”

Cllr Roger Truelove (Lab) said the bid was good news that needed to be tempered by reality. “It’s not a given it will happen,” he said. “It depends on a government minister.”

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