Small business owners say they have been left isolated, cut off from customers and facing serious financial losses after a key village road was closed for long-running roadworks.
Bow Road in Wateringbury was shut by gas network company SGN on June 23 for up to 12 weeks to replace old metal pipes with new plastic ones.
Roadworks at the junction of the A26 Tonbridge Road and Bow Road
The firm described the work as essential for safety.
But for the people running shops, a café and pub just metres from the closure, the disruption has gone far beyond inconvenience.
With access blocked, footfall gone and support unclear, traders say they have been left to cope alone.
Some have reported losses of more than half their usual income and others fear their customers might never come back.
SGN has vowed to complete the work as “swiftly as possible” and says it has shared details about its compensation scheme.
Tearoom and antiques shop Where Memories Meet in Bow Road, Wateringbury
When KentOnline visited Bow Road on a weekday afternoon, Where Memories Meet café was nearly empty.
“We were told the road would reopen once the top section was finished,” said the owner’s mother.
“But it’s still completely closed. Today we only had one table occupied – normally we’re full.”
Down the road, The Railway pub was also feeling the pressure.
Landlady Donna Bushrod said their traditional Sunday carvery had gone from serving 60 people to just 20 for two weekends in a row.
Donna Bushrod, landlady of The Railway Pub
“This is our peak season,” she said. “It’s how we survive the slower months. But now the summer’s gone – just like that.”
She added that she had been sent a link to apply for compensation but no guidance came with it.
“No one explained what evidence we need or when we might hear back.
“In the meantime, our bills keep coming – rent, wages, electricity, water.”
A few doors up the road, Kamal Dave who runs the family’s grocery business, The Handy Stores, agreed with Donna that the compensation process had been confusing and unhelpful.
Kamal Dave, the managing director of The Handy Stores
“It’s like no one thought about what this would do to us,” he said.
“Business is down 40%. And this is the third or fourth year in a row they’ve closed the road.”
He recalled a conversation with one of the engineers last summer.
“He told me they were back because the job wasn’t done right the first time.
“So who’s checking it? Who’s responsible?”
“It’s not just the lost money, it’s the damage to our reputation, our visibility. People forget we’re here…”
Dave also runs a newspaper delivery round, once a quick drive around the corner.
But now, with surrounding roads closed off too, each delivery run takes him an extra 10 miles.
“It’s not worth it anymore,” he said. “But they won’t cover that.
“They’ll just look at gross profit, not all these small, hidden losses.”
He said he had written to Kent County Council, Maidstone council and his MP, but heard nothing back.
“No one’s spoken to us. You’re the first to actually ask what’s happening.”
Sayed works in Kent Quality Car Centre
At the Kent Quality Car Centre, Sayed, who sells second hand cars, said the road closure had brought business to a standstill, with some days so quiet that no customers walked through the door.
“Locals might find a way through the back roads, but anyone coming from outside, especially from London, they follow the sat nav, hit the closure and turn back.
“We’ve lost about 70% of our trade.”
He said vehicles trying to reach them now faced almost 10-mile detours via the A26, Seven Mile Lane and the B2015 Maidstone Road due to other blocked access points.
“It’s not just the lost money, it’s the damage to our reputation, our visibility. People forget we’re here.”
Roadworks in Bow Road as SGN carries out its upgrade
He added: “And the part they promised would reopen soon?
“Still closed. Most days the workers are gone by early afternoon. How is that helping anyone?”
Laurence, who runs a small business from his house, said he considered himself lucky.
“I’m fortunate the post office is still open inside Dave’s shop,” he said.
To avoid the 10-mile detour, he had started using his bike to get around. “It’s just easier now. I use it for everything,” he said.
Laurence runs a small business from home
Despite their frustration, most agreed the gas works were necessary. What they struggled with was how the project had been handled.
“They could have done it differently,” said Donna.
“They didn’t need to shut the whole road.
“They could have done one part at a time so that cars could still get through.
“Or worked at night, or after the businesses closed. Why can’t they do that?
Signs like this have been placed on every road into the village
“Probably because it would cost them more. And now we’re the ones paying for it.”
Traders also a fear the damage will last long after the barriers and cones are removed.
“It takes long time to build a business. After three months of going elsewhere, people form new habits,” said Dave. “They won’t just come back the day the road reopens.”
He added: “We got through lockdown, rising costs, and now this. And where are the people who are supposed to represent us?
“They only show up when there’s an election and they want our votes. The rest of the time, no one cares.”
“On-site activity can vary throughout the day depending on the stage of engineering operations…”
SGN spokesperson Waseem Hanif said the firm was “fully committed” to completing the work “as swiftly and safely as possible, with minimal disruption to the community”.
He added: “This is a rolling closure that moves with our engineering team as work progresses, with completion currently scheduled for August 31.
“While we explored various phasing options, this approach was agreed as the safest and most effective to minimise overall disruption.
“We’ve also worked closely with Kent County Council and local councillors throughout the project, including facilitating the closure of Nettlestead Lane upon their advice to prevent congestion on unsuitable routes.
“On-site activity can vary throughout the day depending on the stage of engineering operations.
“In some cases, our teams may be working inside properties or waiting on specialist reinstatement crews to progress to the next phase.”
He said details of its compensation process had been shared with businesses and signs put up such as “open as usual”.