A multi-million pound project to improve Maidstone's roads - which will see a garden and bench installed next to one of the town's most polluted junctions - will not make any difference, neighbours say.

Kent County Council plans to level The Wheatsheaf pub at the corner of Loose Road and Sutton Road, replacing it with a small green area next to a new system of traffic lights.

Wendy Chilcott has lived just a few doors down from the pub in Loose Road for 40 years. She said: "The pub is part of my history. I haven't actually frequented it but I wouldn't like to see it knocked down.

"The changes to the roads will not make any difference. When I came here to live it was a roundabout.

"Over the years there are more cars on the road. I used to be able to tend my garden at the front with no traffic fumes or anything. There were never any queues of traffic. But since the traffic lights were installed and the cars have increased I very rarely stay out here now because it's so horrible.

"I've developed asthma since I came here to live. I think that's because of the pollution.

"I don't think these changes will make any difference. It's still going to make it difficult to get from here to Sutton Road."

Work to change the junction could start in the summer, when The Wheatsheaf will be bulldozed and entry from Cranborne Avenue would be closed off.

Instead of a pub, motorists will drive past trees and a large decorative sheaf of wheat.

Bill Fridd, of Loose Road, said: "I think it's ridiculous. They're pulling the pub down to make a garden – that's all it's going to be. As for the roads, that's not going to work anyway.

"If there's one lorry going down our (Loose) road to turn right and go up Sutton Road, it will stop the other lane from moving, end of story. We'll be back as we are.

"There are four or five different schemes the council has got going around here. All they need is a ring road going from The Plough down to the M20 – that will put the traffic down by three quarters."

KCC is still asking for people's opinions on its £11million Maidstone Integrated Transport Package. To view the Keep Maidstone Moving consultation, visit tinyurl.com/kmkeepmaidstonemoving

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