By Hayley Robinson

Relief for Sittingbourne’s congested town centre moves a step closer on Monday as work officially begins on a £35.5 million road scheme that will also help boost development and the local economy.

The Kent Highway Services project will see 0.9 miles of road built by Jackson Civil Engineering to link Swale Way at Ridham Avenue with Swale Way at Castle Road. This section of the Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road will cross both Milton Creek and the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway.

Cllr Nick Chard, KCC's cabinet member for environment, highways and waste, said: "Both Kevin Lynes, cabinet member for regeneration and supporting independence, and I are pleased to see this important scheme for Sittingbourne reaching the construction stage.

"As well as improving the flow of traffic to the Eurolink Industrial Estate, this section of the wider Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road will allow further commercial and residential development and help bring forward regeneration of the town centre.

"Completion of the new road will improve the lives of Sittingbourne residents and boost business."

Funding for the road, which is expected to take around two years to complete, is being provided by the Department for Transport and the Homes and Communities Agency.

KCC commissioned Archaeology South East to investigate the site before work started on the relief road. A hoard of ancient treasures was uncovered by archaeologists digging in the Kemsley area.

Pottery vessels and flint tools from a nearby Bronze Age settlement were recovered, as well as the remains of two Bronze Age burial mounds overlooking Milton Creek. Several of the pottery vessels were preserved intact and a triangular-shaped weight probably from an Iron Age loom was also found.