Every resident of Tunbridge Wells and every visitor knows that getting to the town centre from the outskirts is usually a time-consuming experience. The A264 Pembury Road vies with the A26 London Road though Southborough and St John’s for title of the most frustrating road in town.
So, like every local resident, my heart sank when I heard that the gas utility – Southern Gas Networks – is planning to close part of the Pembury Road to traffic this summer to carry out major repairs to one of the principal gas mains that serves Tunbridge Wells.
Last Thursday I met with the gas company as well as Kent County Council (who are responsible for local roads) and representatives of bus companies.
What they told me did not satisfy me that everything possible is being done to minimise the exceptional disruption to residents, visitors and traders. So I have arranged a further meeting with the specialist engineering team this Friday to assess the feasibility of some ideas that I have to improve things.
But first, it is important to set out what was shared with me, on behalf of my constituents, as to why the work has to be carried out in the first place.
I was told that a 1km section of gas main between Blackhurst Lane and the roundabout which gives access to the northbound A21 needs to be replaced for reasons of safety. It currently consists of an 8 inch diameter metal pipe which has become a source of gas leaks which have required emergency repairs. That section has been ranked as the highest priority in Kent and Sussex for replacement of the historic main by a modern, plastic version. The engineers in both the gas company and Kent Highways were adamant that there is no alternative but to replace the existing gas main.
I asked whether it would be possible to carry out the works in such a way that at least one lane of traffic could continue to use the Pembury Road - either alternate flows controlled by traffic lights in each direction, or at least a one-way flow into or out of town. I was told that this was considered, but that two things prevent it: first, the location of the gas main is in the centre of the road, not under one side of the carriageway; and second, in order to keep gas supplies to the town, a temporary main has to be laid above ground for the duration of the works, and a live gas main cannot have traffic passing next to it in case a vehicle accident ruptured it.
Kent County Council has insisted that the works be carried out during the school summer holiday period. I think that is the right requirement. The works will be hugely disruptive at any time, so taking advantage of the 6 weeks when schools and commuter traffic is lighter is sensible. The lighter summer nights and mornings will also allow the crews to work extended 12 hour shifts from 7am to 7pm.
The diversion route will be via the Industrial Estate. Although North Farm is itself prone to congestion, it is hard to see an alternative. Halls Hole Road and Cornford Lane, and the rural roads between Hawkenbury and Kippings Cross are far too narrow and dangerous for the volume of traffic diverted.
I pressed SGN and Kent Highways for pedestrian and cycle access to be maintained along the whole length of Pembury Road during the works. This was confirmed, and road access to the Tesco store will also still be possible, though from the Pembury direction only.
However there are some big outstanding points on which I am not satisfied. It seems to me that the impact of 6 weeks of works, even from 7am to 7pm, could be reduced by several weeks if two crews worked back to back through the night, round the clock. I accept that this would cause great noise disturbance to the residents of Pembury Road, but it would also minimise the period of disruption the same residents have to endure.
I am particularly concerned that - with the works scheduled to make use of the whole period of school holidays up to 4th September - any overrun would cause even worse disruption at one of the busiest times of year. Working through the night would build a valuable buffer into the timetable to guard against this risk.
I have asked for, and obtained, a meeting with Southern Gas Network’s Head of Engineering on Friday to discuss in detail the feasibility of through-the-night working, and I will update constituents following that meeting.
Speaking to bus companies, it is clear that their timetables cannot accommodate the long diversion to the many routes that use the Pembury Road. I have asked Kent County Council to look at providing a shuttle service between the town centre and Pembury so that connections can be maintained and a service can be used by bus users and people that might otherwise have used their car.
Once these matters are finalised it is imperative that there is abundant and clear communication, not just with residents but with visitors, including signage placed around the area several weeks before work commences.
There is no getting away from the fact that the replacement of the Pembury Road gas main will be an ordeal for everyone in and around Tunbridge Wells. Although I have no powers to order the gas company to do things in different ways, I will do everything I can to ensure that the interests of residents and traders are pressed forcefully throughout the weeks ahead.