New Tenterden roundabout on A28 could be named after Captain Sir Tom Moore
14:06, 03 February 2021
updated: 14:14, 03 February 2021
Work is progressing on a new roundabout on the A28 in Tenterden as the town council asks residents to help name it.
The roundabout at the junction of Beacon Oak Road and Ashford Road is being built as part of a development of 100 homes by Redrow at Tilden Gill, which is being named Appledore Green.
Construction began in January and is expected to continue until April 12 – with part of Beacon Oak Road closed until that date.
It follows a wrangle over the junction, where Redrow first proposed to install traffic lights in order to avoid the £400,000 cost of relocating a BT fibre optics box, which the roundabout work entails.
But a backlash from residents, who said that traffic lights would gridlock the A28, resulted in Redrow agreeing to foot the cost of removing the box.
The house builder said it had acknowledged “the strength of local feeling” and had responded to residents’ concerns that traffic lights were not appropriate at the junction.
While the construction is ongoing, Tenterden Town Council is searching for a name and is asking the public to help.
Suggestions so far include Beacon Oak Roundabout, Jubilee Roundabout, The Captain Tom Roundabout, and the particularly popular Tenterturn.
While some residents are having fun thinking up names, others are still concerned about the disruption the work is bringing.
One resident said: “I’m not entirely against the project but the sheer time scale is ridiculous.
"Three months to build a small roundabout with about a 20ft diameter and realign a few junctions... this should be done within two to four weeks, not 12.
"Also I read they are supposed to be working 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and 7am to 6pm Saturday, which sounds more than long enough to have this done in a matter of weeks!”
To suggest a name, email townhall@tenterdentowncouncil.gov.uk
