The A21

When you take the A21 from the M25 in a southerly direction it starts as a dual carriageway but after the exit for Tonbridge reduces to a single two way road causing a tail back made worse by other traffic filtering onto it from the left. The A21 continues as a two way road until you get to the roundabout at which you can turn left into Pembury hospital and right onto the industrial estate with all the super stores. Since John Lewis opened a month or so back the congestion is horrific and the tailback from the Tunbridge Wells direction is unspeakable. Once the new Pembury hospital takes over the A&E from the Kent & Sussex hospital it is possible to imagine that ambulances will be stuck for up to half an hour before being able to exit the roundabout. Whoever is responsible for this lunatic piece of planning deserves to be sacked as does whoever is responsible for the traffic management in Tunbridge Wells itself. No doubt the last government, out of malice, refused to agree to the A21 becoming a dual carriageway down to Hastings as it was against both the South East in general and areas that returned Conservative MPs and Councilors but the area deserves much better not least because if it were not for the wealth created by the area the country as a whole would be a poorer place. It is the biggest earner after London. Let us hope the new government will sort this nonsense out. If Blair could have the A43 from the M40 to Northampton turned into a dual carriageway in next to no time (in order it is said to satisfy Silverstone) this government can surely arrange for the same to be done for the A21.