Swanscombe residents say life has become "intolerable" since major landslip

Residents whose road has been turned into a ‘dangerous’ rat run after a major landslip more than two years ago fear someone will be killed.

People living in Stanhope Road, Swanscombe, say life has become intolerable since nearby Galley Hill Road was shut after the collapse in April 2023.

Speeding drivers, vehicles mounting narrow pavements and banned HGV movements are all adding to the perils faced by vulnerable people in their community, they claim.

The locals recall one incident where a stand-off between two male drivers led to a violent confrontation where one attacked the other’s car with a baseball bat.

Cars have been damaged while idling articulated lorries make their homes vibrate.

Frustrated motorists honk horns and hurl abuse at one another, often resorting to mounting the pavements to get past another vehicle.

As no solution to the Galley Hill Road closure may be forthcoming for up to four years and will require government funding, many residents believe the status quo is not sustainable.

Kent County Council (KCC) is currently considering two options to either repair and support the landslip area or build a bridge over it.

Resident Ian Burton, 67, a retired retail worker, has been gathering locals together each evening this week to highlight the issues.

He said the problems are worst in the early morning and evening rush hour periods and school run times.

Mr Burton added: “We can’t expect any thing to happen for two, three or even four years and we feel that we’re basically being told that we’re just going to have to put up with it.

“But people are mounting the kerb onto pavements that children, mums, old people and the disabled are using every day. It’s dangerous.

“Then there is the abuse and the shouting and swearing, honking horns and people speeding. I just don’t want to have to wait for something tragic to happen here.”

Much of the 150 yards of Stanhope Road is single lane due to parked cars, which have been scratched, bumped or have lost wing mirrors.

At one point, the road pinches to about two feet, leaving the disabled and mums with pushchairs vulnerable to being clipped.

Cllr Thomas Mallon, who represents Swanscombe at Kent County Council, said that he fears “death or injury” if something is not done to ease the pressure on the road.

He has vowed to contact the highways department and conduct a site visit with officials and locals at the busiest times of the day.

Cllr Mallon added: “My fear is death or injury and I think that could actually happen here. We have to raise awareness in the area and to make people drive with due care and attention.

“But we need to get the officials down here and see for themselves and see what can be done.”

Among possibilities that could be explored to ease Stanhope Road’s pressures are the creation of a one-way system, the installation of traffic lights or cameras to catch law-breakers.

Mr Burton said: “When we have raised these ideas in the past they have been dismissed out of hand because it might end up cause traffic to back up in the High Street.

“We know it’s not easy to fix but something has to happen.”

Lorry Watch volunteer Peter Crane said there is a 12.5T limit in place which HGV drivers are ignoring every day. Lorries are meant to use the A2 as a diversion but do not, he said.

Mr Crane, who is 81 and has lived in the area for 75 years, said: “The place has changed a lot over that time but this situation is making life very hard for local people.”

When on patrol, he tries to advise drivers and look out for members of the public but he says sometimes his high-vis jacket acts as a deterrent in itself.

The problems become even worse if there are problems on the A2, which is meant to be taking the bulk of extra traffic.

Annette Livie, who lives in Stanhope Road said: “I was hoping to have a nice peaceful retirement – but no chance.

“The HGVs come through very early morning the whole house shakes because they are so big. The traffic is now constant, 24 hours a day and no let up.

“Stanhope Road is a residential street that is now taking the bulk of the traffic that once used Galley Hill Road. This road was never meant to take all this.

“There was an incident last year when there was an argument between two men refused to budge when they got stuck. One went into the boot and came out with what looked like a baseball bat and started hitting the other man’s car.”

She remembers police being called but not if there were any consequences.

Any solution will have to go to government for approval and eventual funding, but that has yet to be confirmed.

A KCC statement: “Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe remains closed following the collapse of the chalk spine. We are actively exploring solutions to reopen the road with either the construction of a new bridge or building a strengthened embankment.

“At present, the project has no funding, so we are preparing a business case to apply for support from any available source.

“While we’re hopeful about the newly announced HMG Structures Fund, we’re not relying solely on this initiative, and we are continuing to explore all possible options in order to try to move the project forward.

“The ongoing closure is having a significant impact on local residents and businesses, and we are sorry that road users’ journeys continue to be adversely affected.

“We have implemented an official and signed diversion route, and we routinely review how this is performing as this remains the safest and most appropriate route for all road users.

“Regarding Stanhope Road, this is not the official diversion route, but many road users are continuing to choose to use it. We have considered different ways to try to ease the prevailing situation, but this road remains part of a key bus route, and the road layout makes the implementation of a one-way system unworkable especially for buses and delivery vehicles.”

“Despite these complexities, we will continue to explore options and endeavour to keep residents informed about progress.