Can you spot the difference? A new "improved" road layout has been condemned as "a waste of time and money".

The comment came from Peter Hadley, one of many people who were unimpressed with the changes to the junction of Spot Lane with the A20 Ashford Road in Bearsted.

The work was one of a number of schemes around Maidstone intended to mitigate the effects of the extra traffic resulting from 421 new homes a mile away at Parsonage Place, Otham, by home-builder Bellway.

Spot Lane was closed for 11 days while the changes were made.

Motorists had been told the width of the junction was to be increased to create an extra turning left lane, so vehicles exiting the junction wishing to go towards Maidstone were not stuck waiting behind those trying to turn right across the busy A20.

But one resident observed: "It doesn't look any different!"

Another said: "Cars are still stopping in the middle of the lane at the top, preventing the car behind from turning left."

She added: "If they had painted a couple of white lines dividing the lane at the top of the junction, cars would automatically stop further to the right when turning right."

Residents are also wondering why double yellow lines have been painted on one side of the junction, but not the other.

A Kent County Council spokesman said the work was down to Bellway: "The highway improvements at Spot Lane are being completed by the developer under a Section 278 agreement.

"We’ve delegated responsibility to Bellway and have no comment to make."

But a spokesman for Bellway said the changes had been implemented under "KCC Highways supervision".

"We are committed to investing in communities and have agreed an extensive package of infrastructure investment linked to our Parsonage Place development," he said.

"The local road network is undergoing significant improvements.

"The Spot Lane and Ashford Road junction was one of the early highway improvements to be undertaken, and contractors working on behalf of Bellway completed these works in February 2023.

"These works have been carried out in accordance with our planning permission for Parsonage Place and under KCC Highways supervision.

"The double yellow lines were previously on one side only and were not subject to these improvement works.

"The intention of these alterations was to adjust the junction with Ashford Road to enable cars to turn left, if a car is waiting to turn right at the junction.

"Additional improvements to the junctions of Church Road and Deringwood Drive have already been made as well as Church Road north of the site.

"Deringwood Drive and Willington Street junction improvements are due to commence this year before the occupation of the 100th home at Parsonage Place.

"Bellway is also about to begin works to widen Church Road from the development through to the White Horse Lane junction.

"Bellway has committed to more than £4 million in contributions under section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy agreements linked to Parsonage Place, of which over £2.6m has already been paid."

The Deringwood Drive junction is going to involve a two-week road closure and was originally scheduled for March, though this has been delayed as KCC has not yet signed off on Bellway's plans.