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A2 traffic lights not working at known accident hot-spot near Lydden Hill between Dover and Canterbury

Temporary traffic lights at a known accident spot on a dual carriageway have reportedly failed again, this time because they have fallen on the ground.

The area on the A2 at Lydden Hill have been in the headlines in recent weeks amid claims that the permanent lights malfunctioned and caused a crash in December.

The lights control the flow of traffic at a busy interchange connecting the A2 with two country roads, one leading to Lydden via Lydden Hill and the other to Shepherdswell via Coxhill Road.

A general view of the A2 between Dover and Canterbury at Lydden
A general view of the A2 between Dover and Canterbury at Lydden

Today (Thursday) Cllr Marjorie (Mog) Ovenden said they are "on the floor" and that the red lamp in the lights has hardly worked since the temporary lights were installed, most notably in the last two weeks.

After sending an engineer to the area a Highways England spokesman said: “Safety is our top priority at Highways England and we are aware that a collision has damaged some of the lights at the Lydden junction.

"Our engineers are assessing the damage and will repair these lights as soon as possible.”

Two weeks ago, we reported that Charlotte Byrom and her family were injured in a smash which she alleges was caused because the signals were faulty.

Green lights indicated she could cross the busy junction, heading right towards Lydden from the coast bound carriageway.

She told us: "I had no reason not to take my cue from the lights and make my right turn. I never for a moment could imaging the horror that happened."

As she moved forward, her Chevrolet Spark, carrying her partner Luke and two children, was struck by a car heading London-bound.

The incident is being investigated and MP Charlie Elphicke is pushing for action.

Motorists have reported the sequencing issues with the lights have caused traffic chaos in recent weeks.

MP for Dover Charlie Elphicke said: “Yet again drivers will be left fuming at another Highways England blunder in Lydden.

“First the lights didn’t work – now they are falling down. It’s just not good enough.

“Highways chiefs have got to get on top of these issues and make this road safe.

“There needs to be urgent investment to build a proper junction and get rid of these lights once and for all.”

Highways England expects repairs to the permanent set of lights will be made by 6am on Sunday.

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