Four options have been put forward to fix a collapsed road nine months after a landslide forced the closure of the carriageway.

At a meeting of councillors and residents in Swansombe last night Kent County Council (KCC) admitted it has yet to gain access to the site on the A226 Galley Hill Road.

This is despite it first crumbling in April last year and businesses warning they could soon go under if no firm plans to reopen the road emerge.

Addressing disgruntled residents and councillors meeting at Swanscombe Heritage Hall, in Craylands Lane, Toby Howe, from KCC Highways, said: “Progress is very, very slow because there is so much to do and so many parties involved.

He confirmed a contract was in place with a company who were ready to “investigate the site and stabilise the cliff” but legal wrangling was still preventing work starting.

Non-intrusive surveys have already been carried out to assess the stability of the cliff below the road surface but more investigation is needed.

“There are two landowners and we have to have a licence to be able to work on the property,” he said.

Mr Howe is hoping the council will finally be allowed onto the site next month to assess how much damage has been caused under the road surface and start the repair process.

In the meantime, he said four possible options have been discussed on how to fix the damaged road between Swanscombe High Street and Ebbsfleet United Football Club’s Kuflink Stadium in Northfleet.

“Ideally there would not be too much damage under the road surface and we can repair it quickly and open the road,” he said of the first option.

“A second option is to make it a single carriageway with traffic lights at either end.

“The third idea is to build a huge retaining wall to strengthen it and build the road up to it. If this was the case the companies at the base of the cliff in Manor Way would have to move.

“The last option would be to remove the chalk and build a bridge so it would be a suspended road.”

As KCC has not been allowed access, Mr Howe said he can not estimate the costings but would be hoping for help from central government for the plans which he estimated to be “a multimillion pound scheme”.

Attending the meeting for the first time, Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said: “None of us imagined it was going to take so long and be so frustrating.”

“Central government is going to need to know what they are providing the money for, why the problem has happened and what are the solutions.

“Whichever way it is paid for it is going to be coming from the taxpayer in the end. Unless Thames Water is able to contribute, once liability has been established.”

Speaking on a visit to Kent earlier in the day, Minister for Roads and Transport Guy Opperman said his “door was open”.

“That is a matter fundamentally for KCC,” he said. “If they want to talk to me my door is open at all times.

“We will be working with KCC on an ongoing basis to see where we can help.”

The meeting was the third time Mr Howe’s had been invited to address residents and councillors since the road collapsed.

One resident who has been to all three meetings was not impressed with the progress.

“I left before the end as it’s the same old story,” she said. “It’s been nine months and they have still not set foot on the road to see if it’s even fixable. This is going to rumble on for years.”

Mr Johnson said the situation needed to be resolved “as soon as possible”.

“It is affecting people to a degree that is intolerable,” he said. “Speed is of the essence.

“We need to get normality back and a road structure back. Traffic is too busy in that area to do without that road for any period of time.”

And he called on Thames Water to get more involved as the collapse was believed to have been caused by a burst water pipe.

“We look to KCC and Thames Water to get a resolution to this as soon as possible.

“Thames Water are potentially very liable and they do need to step up to the plate.”

Resident Alisdair Bach fears the resulting traffic chaos could lead to a loss of lives.

"We have now only got one east to west route so when the A2 blows we are stuck. It has a major impact on the whole area.

“And when there is a problem at the Dartford Crossing we know we are in for a world of pain on the streets around Swanscombe and Greenhithe.

“People in ambulances being blue lighted could die.”

One business that has been severely affected by the closure is MBC Dispatch Racing, on London Road, in Greenhithe, which is situated next to the closed road.

Owner Michael Cheel says he has suffered huge financial losses and a lack of passing trade in the past nine months to his motorcycle shop.

“We don’t get any passing trade. People have to fight through the traffic in Swanscombe to get here so most of the time they just don't bother coming,” he said.

“We are not going to get any new customers because they don't know we exist. Even people I know who have motorcycles don’t come.

“I don’t know how much longer we can last,” he added. “I have not drawn any wages for six months. I am having to use my savings to put money back in.

“I need to make £6,000 a month to break even and sometimes I am only taking £120 a week.”

Michael says he has no idea where to go for help or to claim compensation.

“It’s hopeless,” he said. “I feel so helpless.”

The time it is taking to fix the issue is deeply frustrating for Michael.

“These conversations are taking months and years. I will have gone under by the time it is sorted.”

Another resident meeting is due to be held in April, which will mark exactly a year since the collapse and when Mr Howe hopes to have more news to share.