Horsing around at Orchard Heights

Motorists using one of Ashford’s busiest access roads will have noticed a new equine addition to a roundabout on the A20 at Orchard Heights.

As part of work to improve the safety, appearance and maintenance of the town’s ‘gateway’ roundabouts, council staff have installed powder coated metal horses in the middle of the roundabout. Three horses and jockeys can be seen racing across the grassy centre of the roundabout, with the lead horse jumping a fence made of a row of shrubs.

They are most visible when travelling towards Charing and represent the popular Charing point-to-point races. The horses are similar in design to the cows on the nearby Drovers roundabout and were installed by Aspire Landscape Management.

Ashford Borough Council, working in partnership with Kent County Council, is carrying out improvement works to five ‘gateway’ roundabouts around the town – the A20 Charing Hill, A20 Orchard Heights, New Street / Chart Road, Romney Marsh / Forestall Road and Romney Marsh / Malcolm Sargent.

At each roundabout there is now “pull-on” vehicle access to ensure the safety of staff carrying out maintenance while also removing any impact on traffic flow since lane closures and traffic management are no longer required during this maintenance.

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