Canterbury commuters face continued delays due to sewer repair
Traffic disruptions in Canterbury are expected to continue until May 29th.
Canterbury faces more than a week of continuing traffic “chaos” as a collapsed sewer is repaired.
There have been temporary traffic lights on the A28 at Wincheap since Southern Water began work on Monday, with side roads also shut.
The water company says the works are set to remain in place until Friday, May 29.
Cllr Connie Nolan (Lab), who represents Barton ward on the Canterbury City Council and Canterbury City South on Kent County Council, said: “Southern Water has agreed to work longer and later but it’s going to be chaos until the 28th or 29th.
“I was coming back from the coast and I was caught in traffic from the top of St Thomas’ Hill.
“The whole of St Dunstan’s was crawling. London Road roundabout and Pin Hill were completely clogged.
“It’s causing absolute chaos and I do understand people’s frustrations with it. It’s the fourth collapsed sewer we’ve had in Canterbury in quite a small area.”
She added: “Southern Water must be open and honest about the reasons for the collapse and if its maintenance schedule needs to be improved.
“It’s been an unacceptable inconvenience to local people travelling to work or taking children to school for their exams.”
Connecting to the city’s busy ring-road, the works have led to significant congestion, with many residents taking to social media to decry the traffic.
“It took me one hour and 45 minutes to get from Hersden to Wincheap yesterday afternoon,” wrote Rogerio Garrancho.
Carol Hopkins Cameron added: “What the hell are they doing up Wincheap now? Canterbury is absolutely terrible at the moment with the Westgate Towers area closed.
“What about us small local businesses? You just don’t care. We are all struggling at the moment and you do this to us. It’s disgusting.”
Kent County Council is the highways authority responsible for roads and closures, and is required to allow closures and temporary traffic lights when essential repair works like those in Wincheap need to take place.
A Southern Water spokesperson said. “We apologise for the inconvenience to residents and commuters and thank them for their patience and understanding.”