A new date has been confirmed for a public inquiry into plans for an £80m upgrade to Stockbury roundabout.

Highways England is planning to build a flyover at the A249's junction with the M2 at Junction 5 for Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Maidstone.

The Department for Transport (DfT) revealed there would be an inquiry to decide on the plans for the revamp following a consultation last year.

It was initially scheduled to begin on Tuesday, March 10 at Hempstead House in Bapchild and was due to last about two weeks.

A pre-inquiry meeting was then held at Hempstead House last month to set a timetable.

But, last week, the DfT said it had been postponed so that Highways England could provide extra information about the plans.

A new date has now been set. The rescheduled hearing will start on Tuesday, April 28.

The scheme won the backing of Swale council and Minster Parish Council, but the inquiry was called by the Secretary of State after objections.

Stockbury Parish Council, which is not opposed to the flyover, fears the village would be cut off under the plans, which would remove access via Honeycrock Hill, and make the Church Hill junction “more dangerous”.

Residents are campaiging for some form of traffic control to be added at the Church Hill turn-off.

Meanwhile, Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is concerned about the environmental impact.

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