Petition signatures are being collected in the next stage of a residents’ battle against sewage system works in their area.

The next move follows a public meeting, attended by 30 neighbours who closely questioned Southern Water and their contractor over the planned works at Willesborough.

Protester Keith Hayward said: “We have already collected 50 letters, which we will send to Southern Water. The next stage is to raise petition signatures.”

The 90-minute meeting, at Willesborough Baptist Church on Wednesday last week , was attended by representatives of both the water company and the contractors, 4 Delivery .

It was called by Cllr Brian Norris (Lib Dem) who said afterwards: “The audience had several questions as to what sort of disruption would be caused.

“There is especially concern over an open space on the old youth club site at Bentley Road, which will become a contractors’ site.”

Residents are worried about noise, safety, parking, lorry movements and traffic over the works, which start in January.

They are for a new sewage system for Ashford as it expands, with improvements particularly needed for developments to the south east of the town.

Mr Hayward, of Bentley Road, said: “The basic concern is noise and disruption and as a night worker for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link I am worried about whether I will be able to sleep during the day.”

The meeting was chaired by the Rev Alan Dinnie and panel members answering questions were Gary Sayer of Southern Water, and Ross Tedman, Richard Morris and Roger Boorman of 4 Delivery.

Southern Water says that the multi-million point scheme is needed to support future developments in the Cheeseman’s Green and Waterbrook Park areas of Ashford.

The project is due to be completed by summer 2010 and the company says it will try to minimise disruption.