THE head of a community project group has written to the Highways Agency about the poor state of roundabouts and verges on the A249.

Gordon Henderson, of the Swale Community Action Project, wrote to the agency’s chief executive Archie Robertson, saying the areas were “disgraceful”.

He said the stretch from the M2 to the docks at Sheerness was a particular eyesore.

Mr Henderson, who lives at Halfway, near Sheerness, stressed: “Despite repeated complaints, these traffic islands and verges are overgrown to such an extent that they now represent a danger to motorists who use them.

“In addition their unkempt and unsightly appearance is a very poor advertisement in an area for which tourism is very important.”

A Highways Agency spokesman said: “Safe roads are a priority for us and the verges and traffic islands on the A249 are no exception.

“The grass cutting regime for the road is the same as any other road and is determined by the trunk road maintenance manual which requires a one-metre swathe to be cut around the edge of roundabouts and the edge of verges.

“The A249 is inspected regularly to ensure that visibility is not compromised as a result of vegetation.

“We have received a letter from Mr Henderson and will respond in full in due course.”