For one woman, coming face to face with one of the team behind a potential Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on her home was very emotional.

Angela Peach, 67, lives in Marling Cross, Gravesend.

During the meeting she stood up to address Highways England senior project manager Martin Potts and, through tears, said: “I received a letter to say my house was at risk of a CPO. What I want to know is how long do I have before you make me homeless.

“This has caused me nothing but stress and sleepless nights – I’ve lost weight. I live with my daughter and all the worry has caused arguments.

“How much notice will we get, where will we go? I don’t understand how it’s all going to happen. I don’t think it’s right. I go to bed every night and lie awake for hours worrying.”

Mr Potts said Highways England had tried to go the extra mile in getting advanced warning out early, to keep people in the picture.

Realistically, after a plan is agreed, a second consultation on the details will go ahead. Then it will need more finite budgeting and again sent to government for approval. It was unlikely a decision would be made on the exact plan and who would carry out the work for four or five years, and only then would CPOs start being issued.

After the meeting Mrs Peach said: “I’ve lived in that house with my daughter and her partner for eight years. It’s just awful. You don’t know what to do with yourself.

“Some fences in the garden blew down recently and you sort of think, do you bother putting them back up? What’s the point if it’s all going to be demolished at any moment.

“I still don’t know how long I’d have to find somewhere else to live.”