The construction of a new Aldi store in Ashford has sparked concerns among residents, who fear that faulty temporary traffic lights could remain in place for an extended period, causing further disruptions to their daily commutes. This issue has arisen due to safety concerns raised by the highways authority, Kent County Council (KCC), regarding the new signals installed as part of the store's planning permission.
The temporary lights, which are currently stuck on red, have been causing delays for drivers, and residents like Steve Maple worry that the situation may persist for weeks. Maple believes that the location of the new Aldi store is ill-conceived, given the already heavy traffic on Canterbury Road, and suggests that the wide pedestrian path near the store could have been designed as a slip road to alleviate some of the congestion.
The project has already caused eight months of disruption on the A28, with contractors carrying out road improvements to accommodate the store. New traffic lights have been installed at various junctions, including the store entrance, Cemetery Lane, and Bybrook Road, where the temporary lights are causing significant delays. Rylands Road resident Shireen Goacher describes the traffic situation in Kennington as the worst it has ever been in the 40 years she has lived there.
KCC has identified several safety issues with the new lights, including pedestrian crossings that are narrower than expected, uneven paving, and a stop line in Bybrook Road that is too close to the crossing. The authority has stated that these issues must be resolved by the developer before the new traffic lights can be switched on.
A spokesman for KCC explained that once the concerns are addressed, further checks will be conducted to ensure the safety of the new junction, which will be 'intelligent' and able to respond dynamically to traffic conditions. An Aldi spokesman confirmed that the company is working with the council to resolve these additional requests and is eager to see the traffic lights operational as soon as possible.
The new Aldi store is being developed on a 1.85-acre site that was previously home to Houchin Social Club and has been vacant for decades. The chain plans to publicize the opening date of the new store in the coming months and has previously stated that it will open later this autumn or winter, creating 40 new jobs. Interestingly, the site was initially earmarked for a Miller & Carter steakhouse before Aldi acquired the plot in 2019.
This situation highlights the challenges of balancing the benefits of new developments with the potential disruptions they can cause to local communities. It remains to be seen how long it will take to resolve these safety concerns and whether the new Aldi store will bring the anticipated benefits to the area.
