Fears are growing that the six-week closure of a busy main road will be a hammer blow to businesses and lead to a “summer of disruption” for drivers.
It follows Southern Gas Networks’ plans to begin a mains replacement scheme on the A258 London Road in Deal on July 23.
The road is the main route eastward out of the town towards Sandwich and Thanet. Now SGN is suggesting a 22-mile detour via Whitfield and the A2.
The works will create a full road closure at the mini roundabout junction of London Road with Manor Road and Rectory Road.
For months, the London Road in and out of Deal has already been blighted by roadworks and temporary traffic lights.
Shutting it completely, it is feared, will starve businesses of hundreds of customers who use the route.
SGN says due to the location of its gas pipes, a full closure is its only choice.
Bosses at the family-run Algar Farmshop Lodge and Cafe on the A258 near Betteshanger are concerned it will be hugely damaging and potentially force them to cut their opening hours.
“It’s going to have a massive impact on our takings because we have a lot of customers from the Deal side,” said Jane Algar.
“Yet, the first we were aware of the closure was when they stuck a sign up in the road outside, which I only noticed this week when I went to put the bins out.
“It will be happening at one of the busiest times of the year for us, and could mean we have to cut back our opening hours.
“Times are already tough enough for businesses like ours with the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, minimum wage and energy costs.”
Equally fearful of the impact is the Betteshanger Country Park, where bosses say they have already seen a 50% increase in running costs over the last year.
“We rely on the summer holidays to keep us going but many visitors simply won’t come if they face a long detour,” said park manager Tyler Christy.
The park offers an adventure play area, road and mountain biking, archery, a cafe, a mining museum, an obstacle course and numerous other opportunities for outside activities.
It also hosts a variety of events, including a military festival and country fair on July 26/27 and the Heritage Sprint on August 9/10.
But Miss Christy fears attendance numbers will now suffer because of the road closure.
She added: “What we offer is activities for families and especially children who, it is well known, thrive better outdoors.
“So, it’s fair to say, this road closure will affect them and has really set alarm bells ringing.
“It’s only fortunate that we have the support of our parent company to keep us going.”
The closure will likely also have a significant impact on people driving to work to and from Sandwich and Thanet, as well as journeys for things like hospital appointments.
Many with local knowledge who regularly use the busy route might attempt cross-country rat-runs, including Mongeham Road, to get around the closure, which could lead to further traffic congestion.
It is also likely that bus journeys will be affected. KentOnline has contacted Stagecoach for a comment.
Chairman of Deal Town Council, Cllr Mike Eddy, fears the town’s businesses and even events like the carnival week from July 26 to August 1, will suffer with lower visitor numbers.
“I think it’s fair to say we can expect a summer of disruption because this road closure will have widespread implications for business, visitors and people trying to drive to work,” he said.
“I appreciate this gas mains work has to be done and they have chosen the school holiday period when there’s less traffic, but there’s no escaping the effect it will have.”
Cllr Eddy says he has now put the issue on the agenda of the council’s transport and infrastructure committee for discussion on July 15.
An SGN spokesman said: “Unfortunately, due to the location of our gas pipes in the road here, a full closure is our only possible way of carrying out the work.
“We know this is a busy area and will be doing everything we can to minimise the disruption for everyone.”
A spokesperson for Stagecoach acknowledged some of its services – 81, 82, 82A and 85 – will operate on diverted routes from Saturday, July 27.
They added the number 84 is not diverting, but will have an amended timetable interlinking with the diverted 85 times.
Between July 23 and 26 – during the final week of the school term – school journeys will be cancelled on non-school days.
They said: “A temporary shuttle service – Route 81E – will also be introduced, serving Sandwich, Woodnesborough, and Eastry.
“All diverted services will continue to serve all stops along the revised route, and real-time tracking and updated journey information will be available via our app and online journey planner.
“We appreciate customers’ patience during this period and are working to minimise disruption as much as possible.”
