A court injunction could force private landowners to allow access to a collapsed road after a highways boss warned there would be “no more Mr Nice Guy”.

Kent County Council has vowed to go to the courts if it has to in order to gain access to land to the north of the A226 Galley Hill Road in Swanscombe.

It comes after more than a year of legal wranglings with the landowners to gain access.

Battles between the landowners and Kent County Council (KCC) regarding access have been ongoing since the landslide saw the A226 between Swanscombe High Street and Ebbsfleet’s Kuflink stadium in Northfleet crumble on April 10 last year.

But after recently being granted access to the south side to start intrusive investigations, KCC is now desperate to get onto the north side to complete their work.

The issue was brought up at a meeting of Swanscome and Greenhithe Residents’ Association at Swanscombe Heritage Hall in Craylands Lane last night (April 22).

Toby Howe, senior highways manager for KCC Highways, told the meeting he had sympathy for Lancebox Demolition - the company behind the hold up - who were left to pick up the pieces after the road collapsed onto their premises - damaging buildings, vehicles and machinery.

He said: “We have been trying to work with one of the landowners. We understand they are an independent business and it is not their fault so we did not want to go in heavy-handed.

“We wanted to have their cooperation and have been pushing for the permits to get on the land but if we do not get their permission with the next week or so we will be taking it forward.

“No more Mr Nice Guy.

“We will use whatever powers we can to access the land and carry out the surveys.”

Mr Howe said they had now they had exhausted every attempt to work with the landowners and were prepared to go to court to see the issue resolved.

He said: “We are hoping it should be early next month at the latest so we can get onto the north side, which is crucial.”

When approached by KentOnline, landowners Lancebox Ltd said they were still awaiting communication with KCC.

Joint owner Jake Hughes previously said his business has been impacted financially in a variety of different ways, including having to outsource vehicle maintenance and ongoing internet issues.

He added: “We are looking for reasonable compensation for what we have had to spend to keep our business afloat. The ball is back with KCC solicitors.”

The other landowner on the north side is Ace Car Breakers Ltd, based at Manor Way Business Park, who is said to be cooperating.

Once work has been completed, KCC plans to continue discussions with government roads minister Guy Opperman and is hopeful of securing a loan to carry out the work, which would be paid back once liability has been established.

Mr Howe told residents: “We had a very positive meeting with the roads minister Guy Opperman and Dartford MP Gareth Johnson, but the information he is wanting as to costings is not available at the moment.

“As soon as we have done the investigations we can look at the costs needed for rebuilding the road.

“KCC does not have that money in its back pocket so I would like the roads minister to agree to pay for the repair of the road with them being compensated by KCC or Thames Water once liability has been determined, rather than waiting for liability first.”

Earlier this month, residents waved placards and tooted horns in a protest marking one year since the major road collapsed.

A protest, dubbed an “unhappy birthday”, saw more than 50 residents turn up at the junction of Galley Hill Road and Swanscombe High Street to express their dissatisfaction at the lack of action since the road collapsed on April 10 last year.

Ongoing battles between KCC, Thames Water and land owners have seen no obvious progress made during the 12 months.

Residents say this has left them facing traffic misery including gridlocked roads, lack of buses and noisy, sleepless nights.

Last week, a digger finally appeared onsite at the main thoroughfare and began undergoing tests on the land to the south side of the collapse.

Mr Howe said work is making good progress on the south side and engineering tests are being carried out.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson, who was unable to attend the meeting due to a parliamentary vote on the government’s Rwanda bill last night, submitted a report.

It revealed he has made an application for a debate in Parliament on the issue of the road collapse in a bid to keep up pressure on the roads minister.

He said: “It is causing huge disruption to residents and we need it open as soon as possible.”