Roadworks have been causing chaos across Faversham just as children returned to school this week following the Christmas break - with fears that country lanes will become “rat runs” for impatient drivers.

Contractors have descended on Brogdale Road, Grove Place and Bridge Road, and will be setting up in Ashford Road soon - and won’t be leaving for several weeks.

Two months of misery began on Monday for motorists who use the busy A2 London Road and Brogdale Road.

There will now be works along Brogdale Road until Friday, March 13, including traffic lights at the junction with the A2 throughout the project.

It comes as part of the major Perry Court development along the road, with works stretching about 600 metres from the junction to the building site entrance.

During this period, the junction with the A2 will be widened and a pedestrian crossing will be placed along the road.

"My biggest concern is that drivers wishing to avoid delays will use local lanes as a rat run..." - Cllr David Simmons

Three-way traffic signals will be positioned at the junction until Friday, February 7, after which there will be two-way lights until completion, expected to be on March 13.

Contractors will be working along the road between 7.30am and 7.30pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am until 4pm on Saturdays.

Major gas works are set to take place on the A251 Ashford Road. Contractors were due to begin work on Monday, but this has been pushed back to now start on Monday, January 13.

Due to be completed before the end of the month, temporary traffic lights will be installed around the work area from Monday, January 20.

Meanwhile, Grove Place is due to be shut until Thursday, January 23, so that a gas main can be replaced.

And the ongoing saga with the Creek bridge is yet to conclude, with Bridge Road not expected to be open until Monday, January 20 at the earliest - more than a month after work began in December.

Faversham resident Cllr David Simmons (Con) has slammed the amount of roadworks going on in the town.

The East Downs ward representative for Swale Borough Council said: “The concern is how does the highways authority allow so many sets of works to take place at the same time, causing delay and inconvenience for residents and businesses? My biggest concern is that drivers wishing to avoid delays will use local lanes as a rat run such as Vicarage Lane, Porter’s Lane, Plumford Lane and Water Lane.

“I have written to KCC Highways asking for temporary signage on these lanes to discourage inappropriate use.

“I asked them at the planning meeting on December 5, needless to say no action to date prior to the works commencing.

“Disgraceful!”

Paul Davis, who lives along Brogdale Road, has hit out at the number of developments across the town causing “major disruption”.

“People are sick to death of the building going on in the town and the disruption is is causing.

“This is not the first time we have had major disruption caused by building going in Faversham.

“In my opinion, the town is not a very nice place to live at the moment. It’s chaos.”

What do you think? Email favershamnews@thekmgroup.co.uk.

Read more: All the latest news from Faversham