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Residents of Sittingbourne's Eden Village are driven round bend by rogue roundabout

Sylvia Bennett beside the island which has been confusing people on the Eden Village estate
Sylvia Bennett beside the island which has been confusing people on the Eden Village estate

Ward Homes has vowed to sort out a traffic island which is causing confusion for motorists.

With no road markings or signs, visitors and residents of Eden Village are left scratching their heads when they approach the island which links Crocus Drive, Crossways, Bluebell Drive and Primrose Avenue.

As a result some drivers are using it as a roundabout and others as a two-way system. It seems the waters have been muddied by the fact it was used as a roundabout when the site was developed four years ago.

But in March 2011 the housing developer submitted a planning application to Swale council to change it to a two-way system with landscaping plus a pedestrian and cycle route on the central island.

The proposal was rejected on safety grounds. But the decision was overturned by the planning inspectorate in December the same year.

Eden Village resident Ken Mackness
Eden Village resident Ken Mackness

However, it seems the message never filtered through to those living in the area and many are still unsure of its status.

Cllr Sylvia Bennett contacted the News Extra saying the situation is “an accident waiting to happen” after the issue was brought to her attention by concerned resident Ken Mackness.

He said: “I believe that it is only a matter of time if the present situation persists, before someone is seriously hurt, either a pedestrian or motorist.

“The problem and serious threat posed by the confusion can easily be put right with simple interim signage before the roads are adopted by Kent Highways Services (KHS) and then permanent following that.

“I am not asking for extreme parking measures, merely someone to take charge of getting a sign to be placed on a roundabout either by the estate mangers, Highways agency or even Swale council.

“This will at the very least save a car accident and at best, save lives.” A Ward Homes’ spokesman said: “We will look into the status of the road immediately.

“Once this has been established, we will ensure that the road is appropriately signposted and marked in order to avoid future confusion before it is eventually adopted by the council.”

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