A village is bracing for three months of disruption from closures on a narrow route.

It is feared residents in St Margaret’s Bay, near Dover, will be plagued by the noise of night work.

Traders are worried about disruption to their business and villagers say diversion routes planned are unworkable.

The steep Bay Hill, which goes from the clifftop to the beach and has two hairpin bends, will have closures in four stages from January to April for work by utility companies.

Lee Calverley, manager of the popular Coastguard pub at the bottom of the road, told KentOnline: “We are worried about the effect on our business, that it might put people off coming here.

“On most of the road two cars can't pass and it is the only way down to the beach.

“Sometimes we have overnight camper vans coming down.

“We are talking with the utility companies about the best way to manage this.”

Affinity Water wants to work at Bay Hill from January 13 to 24 to provide a new connection off the main.

UK Power Networks is there for two overlapping periods, from January 27 to February 23 and January 27 to March 7, to install a new electricity supply for a customer and dig a trench for a new service connection.

Work will take place, at first, from 10pm to 6am and temporary traffic lights will be needed.

Finally Southern Gas Networks wants to lay a new main and install 10 new services from the main between March 10 and April 4.

Diversion routes are at Granville Road and Harold Road.

A statement from St Margaret’st-at-Cliffe Parish Council was read out at the last Dover Transportation Advisory Group meeting at the district council offices on December 12.

The parish council warned of disruption during a “critical period for the local hospitality industry - the Easter season”.

It added: "We must emphasize the proposed diversion for some of the daytime works is entirely impassable for four-wheeled vehicles creating severe accessibility concerns.

"Additionally much of the work is scheduled to take place overnight just metres from residents’ front doors raising serious concerns about noise and disturbance.”

The statement was read out by Cllr Martin Bates, ward district member for the area.

He told the meeting: “On the basis of this I’ve had a number of meetings with the parish council, they are not happy.”

He suggested the Kent County Council (KCC) cabinet member for transport and highways, Cllr Neil Baker, and the board meet the parish council to discuss the problem.

He said: “I would strongly suggest that before these go ahead, so we can air this out, and resolve the issues before they start.”

St Margaret’s Bay is one of Kent’s most sought-after areas, with average house prices of £735,600.

Cllr Bates told KentOnline “The bottom part of Bay Hill is particularly quiet so people would really be disturbed there.

"With the diversion for Hotel Road but the turning from Bay Hill is too sharp. “

A KCC spokesperson said: "We know how disruptive and frustrating it can be when a road closure affects your journey. When you do see a road closure, this is always for essential works to upgrade and maintain the highway or the utility services that everyone relies on.

“We have a duty to allow utility companies to access their equipment and so we cannot decline reasonable requests, and we do not have direct control over when companies are able to complete the works.

“Our dedicated team of coordinators will always look to minimise the disruption caused by any works on the network to residents and businesses as much as possible, however, some disruption is unfortunately unavoidable.”

Once agreed, upcoming works are public on the Causeway one.network site alongside details of diversions and the name of the contractor doing the works.

People can contact the utility company responsible for the works to find out more information.