by Stephen Waite

Traffic lights could be installed at one of Sittingbourne’s busiest junctions to avoid gridlock if Tesco builds a superstore in town.

A study on the impact of shoppers driving to and from the supermarket giant’s proposed Extra store has shown it could result in vehicles queuing back on to the A249 from the Key Street roundabout.

And the Highways Agency says lights are necessary to keep queues off the dual carriageway.

A spokesman said: “Safety is our top priority and we need to ensure that traffic accessing the proposed development will not queue back on to the A249.

“We also need to make sure that the A249 will continue to provide good access to existing and proposed development to the north of Sittingbourne, particularly the Isle of Sheppey.”

Progress on the Tesco plans has stalled while it thrashes out an agreement with the Highways Agency, which has extended an official order, in place since December, blocking the development.

A package of measures, which includes the possibility of traffic lights at the Key Street roundabout, is close to being completed but a detailed plan for where they would go is yet to be revealed.

The prospect of having to wait at red lights has been met with scepticism by people working and living nearby.

Judy Taylor, site manager of the Esso at Key Street, said: “Sometimes when sitting at the roundabout in the mornings trying to get round I think it would be better if there were lights.

“But overall I think it will just make it slower and once people get through the lights they might not want to stop again so it could have an impact on us here.

“Maybe they should try it with temporary lights first to see what kind of tailbacks you get just from normal traffic.”

Bobbing parish councillor and Keycol Hill resident of 15 years, Larry Major, said he could not see how lights would alleviate traffic problems. “There are problems for people trying to come out of Bobbing Hill because cars travel so fast off the A249 but other than those people, I can’t see that lights would be of great value,” he added.

The latest Highways Agency block on Tesco’s proposals expires next week but could be extended for a further eight weeks if a solution cannot be agreed.

Tesco was approached for a comment but was unable to provide one.