The cost of building Sheppey’s desperately needed roundabout on the A2500 Lower Road to relieve the Island’s gridlocked traffic jams has rocketed by £200,000 in TWO WEEKS.

The scheme now stands at £1.8million. The news was broken to shocked councillors at the Joint Transportation Board meeting.

Chairman Cllr Andrew Bowles (Con) admitted: “I am horrified at the way the price is going up.”

The original scheme to replace traffic lights at the junction of Barton Hill Drive was estimated at £500,000.

Swale council had offered to foot the bill for almost half.

But when papers were issued for Monday’s meeting two weeks ago the price had jumped to £1.6million.

Then on Monday, council officer Kieren Mansfield told county, borough and parish councillors the cost now stood at £1.8million.

It is sixth on the list of priority road schemes for Kent and Medway but must now bid for cash against other projects across the south east.

A decision will be made by the Local Economic Partnership’s Strategic Board next Friday, July 15. Winning bids will then go before the Government.

Minster parish councillor Peter MacDonald said: “I can’t believe how much the cost has escalated since we first began talking about this 10 years ago.”

He hit out at designs for the roundabout which he said were “pretty poor” and predicted they would make it difficult for articulated lorries.

He added: “Queuing back to the A249 is an absolute no no.

“Even at 3.30pm this afternoon there were queues. We really must get this scheme moving.

“The situation is so serious this project deserves to be Kent’s number one road priority.”

Cllr Cameron Beart (Con, Queenborough and Halfway) said: “We should have had it done when it only cost £500,000.”

MP Gordon Henderson has asked for the traffic lights to be switched off temporarily to improve traffic flow.

Mr MacDonald agreed it was one possible short-term solution but added: “Another short-term solution is to stop traffic turning right into Barton Hill Drive from Eastchurch.

Drivers would turn right at the Thistle Hill roundabout instead and use Plover Road.

“There should also be no right turn at the bottom of Barton Hill Drive so motorists filter left and go round the Thistle Hill roundabout like they have to do to access the County Showground at Detling. They wouldn’t like it but at least it would keep the traffic moving.”

But the stressed: “This must only be for the short term.”

He proposed his emergency changes be sent to KCC’s Highways boss Cllr Matthew Balfour (Con).

The suggestion was seconded by Cllr Beart. Members backed the move seven votes to four.

Kent Highways staff are also working on a £4million sister scheme to widen the Lower Road from Cowstead Corner to Barton Hill Drive. Cllr Roger Truelove (Lab, Homewood) said space for cyclists should be included.

He said: “Pedestrians and cyclists take their lives in their hands when using that road now.”