A roundabout upgrade is more than a quarter of a million pounds over budget and 18 months behind schedule, it has been revealed.
Works on the Grovehurst roundabout, off the A249 between Kemsley and Iwade, near Sittingbourne, were supposed to be completed in June last year after starting in September 2023.
The Grovehurst roundabout upgrade project is £280,000 over budget. Picture: Phil Drew
But Kent County Council’s (KCC) contractor, Jackson Civil Engineering, said it will not be finished until the new year – 18 months behind schedule.
The authority has had to announce three times that the scheme would not be completed when it had hoped.
It is converting the former dumbbell junction into a two-bridge system.
Jackson is also carrying out the work at the Key Street roundabout, with both works earmarked to cost £38.1million.
However, a recent Freedom of Information request revealed the project was £280,000 over budget as of September.
Now, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Kevin McKenna, has called on KCC to pursue the contractors for financial compensation.
Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Kevin McKenna is demanding Kent County Council get compensation from its contractors working on Grovehurst roundabout. Picture: KMTV
In a letter sent to KCC’s cabinet member for transport and highways, Cllr Peter Osbourne (Ref), on Monday (November 24), Mr McKenna said if money was secured, it should be spent on projects in the town.
Mr McKenna told KentOnline on Tuesday (November 25): “Everyone in Sittingbourne and its surrounding villages has already endured well over two years of constant chaos due to repeated delays.
“It’s time for KCC to make it clear to everyone locally whose daily lives and work have been severely disrupted, whether it will seek compensation from the contractors.
“More than that, they must commit to ensuring that any funds recovered are reinvested directly into the local community to support local infrastructure and services.
“The community deserves accountability, transparency and bold action after enduring relentless delays, congestion and uncertainty.”
Kent County Council is being called on to demand compensation for the delays on the Grovehurst Roundabout. Picture: Phil Drew
It comes after residents and businesses have repeatedly told KentOnline their anger about closures associated with the projects.
Most recently, one bus boss said how his firm had to put on additional services just to cope with the traffic caused by the closure of the A249 Maidstone-bound entry slip road at Key Street and a partial closure at Grovehurst.
Aerial footage captured on November 13 showed queues tailing back for three miles on the B2006 – from the Bobbing roundabout back to the roundabout near The Stumble Inn pub.
KentOnline has approached KCC for comment.
Cllr Osbourne has been urged to resign over a WhatsApp message in which he spoke about wanting to punch a colleague in the face.
The Reform member apologised for his part in an exchange last month discussing the leaking of a video showing a heated internal party meeting.
