EXCLUSIVE: Sandgate Road Could Be Shut "For Months or Longer"

The section of Sandgate Road in Folkestone from its junction with Earls Avenue to the junction with Castle Hill Avenue could be closed for months "if not years" as exploratory work has found major "voids" down the entire stretch, the Shepway Lib Dems have learned. The voids make the road unsafe to HGV traffic, and have been caused by a cracked Southern Water sewer which is leaking at many points down its length.

The reply came in response to a letter last week from Lib Dem Councillor Tim Prater to Kent Highway Services on when the road was expected to be re-opened.

A Kent Highways Officer explained that because the problem has now been identified as due to Southern Water's broken sewer, it will be for Southern Water to repair, and it is unlikely the road will be opened to traffic before a full repair is made, due to the danger of collapse. The replacement of the sewer and reinstatement of the road will be a big project that would usually be planned years in advance, and the cost is likely to run into millions of pounds.

Councillor Prater said:

"It's incredible that a major road in Folkestone can be closed for this period of time and yet local residents have been kept entirely in the dark on the problem. This is a major issue, which is likely to see Sandgate Road closed for the foreseeable future, yet no-one at Kent thought it worthwhile to tell local residents - it's a disgrace.

"Southern Water have now had the news that they have major repairs to do for weeks. It's time they came clean, say how they plan to deal with the problem and tell local people when they plan to undertake the works.

"Southern Water clearly have a big project to replace the water main and reinstate the road. No-one could expect them to achieve that immediately, but they do need to be up-front and honest, and give Folkestone residents an idea of how long Sandgate Road will be shut to through traffic."

Lib Dem Town Councillor for Harvey Central, Gary Fuller, was shocked to learn that the closure could be so long.

"Residents on Sandgate Road need to be reassured as to the scale of the problem that has been found, and what Southern Water plan to do about it." said Gary.

"What size 'voids' have they found, and are they likely to get worse? How severe is the leaking to the sewer? How long will works take to solve the problem? Is there any danger to surrounding property, or is the problem entirely confined to the road? Southern Water need to tell us what is going on - they can't let just let news on this drip out."

Tim Prater has written to Southern Water to ask when the repairs are planned for. In his email, he says:

"Highway Services have explained that they closed the road some weeks ago to undertake exploratory works, which have identified that the gradual collapse of the road is due to voids being caused by the Southern Water sewer leaking at several points down its length.

"Highway Services also explained they had passed this information to you some weeks ago, and that the road is now dangerous to the extent that they do not believe it will be re-opened until you have repaired the sewer and re-instated the road, which is likely to be a major task.

"This is a major route into the centre of town, and its ongoing closure is causing significant traffic difficulties. I am writing to ask when you are planning to undertake the required sewer repair and road reinstatement works, and therefore when you would expect Sandgate Road to be re-opened.

"I understand that major repairs cannot be put in place immediately, but it is unreasonable not to keep local residents informed and give them the best estimate of when this work is planned for, and keep them up to date with changes as the project progresses."