More than £100,000 is being spent on creating a garden in honour of Gillingham-born Will Adams – in the middle of a busy roundabout.

Work has begun on the island at the centre of the Will Adams roundabout in Watling Street where it meets the A289 Ito Way and Will Adams Way.

When complete, the Japanese-themed garden, costing £135,000 will have a bridge, evergreen plants and trees.

It is being funded by money from the Local Transport Plan (LTP) and planning agreements – including some of the money provided by Tesco for town centre improvements in Gillingham.

“This money cannot be justified at a time when we’re seeing the roads deteriorating and constant traffic jams all over the Towns. Why is this a priority?” - Cllr Glyn Griffiths

Twydall ward councillor, Glyn Griffiths (Lab), believes the cash could be better spent.

He said: “It’s a utter waste of money on this Tory vanity project. This just rubs salt in the wounds of the people held up in the jams at the roundabout.

“I think the public will be astounded that £135,000 is being spent at a time of cuts and austerity when we have potholes and the layout of that roundabout needs to be improved.”

The £135,000 is made up of £28,000 from planning agreements made during the negotiations of the development of MidKent College and £30,676 as part of the extension of Tesco Extra, Gillingham.The remaining £76,000 is from the LTP and a small undisclosed amount from the B&Q development on Gillingham Business Park.

Cllr Griffiths added: “This money cannot be justified at a time when we’re seeing the roads deteriorating and constant traffic jams all over the Towns.

“Why is this a priority?”

During the negotiations for the Tesco superstore extension at Bowaters Roundabout, the supermarket chain agreed a financial contribution of £300,000 towards town centre improvements.

Medway Council has not confirmed details of the roundabout funding but the breakdown has been provided to Cllr Griffiths by council officials.

Cllr Phil Filmer, in charge of frontline services, described the garden as a lasting tribute to Will Adams, who was the first Englishman to reach Japan in 1600 and set up trade links.

He added: “We are delighted to be able to pay tribute to Will Adams in this way after talking to the Japanese community.”