A row over the position of four “no entry” signs at a bus-only lane is holding up the installation of cameras to catch drivers who misuse it.

The signage is said to be 40cm too close to the kerb and, in the meantime, residents have found themselves almost coming to blows with motorists abusing the route.

Last Friday, George Powell, of Howard Drive in Allington near Maidstone found another driver waiting for him when he left his house to take his wife to her job at Maidstone Grammar School.

The 73-year-old, who has lived there for 13 years, said: “He beckoned at me and when I wound the car window down, he leaned on the car in a threatening manner and began swearing at me.”

Two days earlier, Mr Powell had told the man that he shouldn’t be driving through the “busgate” which connects the new Hermitage Park estate with the older properties in Allington.

“He was very intimidating,” said the pensioner. “And he told me to mind my own f****** business.

“My wife was in the car and she told me not to respond, but just drive on.”

Such incidents seem to be becoming more frequent as residents clash with drivers who are blatantly abusing the rules.

When Croudace built its 500-home development at Hermitage Park off Hermitage Lane, the developer created a route through the estate along Chapelfield Way and into Howard Drive, so both areas could be served by a new bus.

However, planners insisted the route should be for buses and pedestrians only, so it did not create a rat-run for traffic between Hermitage Lane and the A20 London Road.

As a result a “busgate” with a “sumpbuster” was installed - a raised concrete platform intended to smash the sump of any cars that ignored the “no entry” sign.

It has proved totally ineffective.

Cllr Chris Passmore (Lib Dem), who represents Maidstone Central on Kent County Council (KCC), explained: “The theory was that the buses with high suspension would pass safely over the top, and cars lower to the ground would be caught.

“But since then, buses have got lower, as they have been designed for easier access, and cars have got higher.”

So after a public consultation, KCC took the decision last April to use newly-granted powers to enforce moving traffic offences and to install ANPR cameras at the “busgate”.

But as of this week, there is no sign of the cameras.

KCC has yet to officially “adopt” the road from Croudace.

It said it could not do so until the “busgate” had been protected with four illuminated “no entry” signs.

Croudace duly put them in, but then KCC declared the signs were 40cm too close to the kerb.

It wants Croudace to move the signs before it adopts the route. Croudace feels it has done what was asked of it.

Meantime, it is without cameras and is being more and more frequently abused.

Cllr Rachel Rodwell (Green) is the ward borough councillor for the area. She said: “People are finding the situation quite threatening.

“There is a lot of frustration. Cars are coming through the busgate quite quickly and surprising pedestrians who are not expecting it.

“People do not expect to feel threatened in their own neighbourhood.

“It’s causing conflict and altercations and getting worse as more people seek to find a way through past the hold-ups on Hermitage Lane.

“It’s upsetting that there has been such a delay in getting the cameras, as residents have been pinning their hopes on this.”

Cllr Passmore said: “Of course, there will be a cost to installing cameras - which we will all share the burden of paying.

“No doubt when they do go in, they will solve the problem, but they shouldn’t be necessary. People who drive through the ‘no entry’ are already breaking the law and they shouldn’t be.”

In a public consultation conducted by KCC at the start of the year, 98 were in favour of cameras and 36 were against.

Meanwhile, there is also a physical gate which is unlocked by the first Nu Venture bus driver who passes through at about 7.30am each day, and locked again by the last one each evening. The bus service does not run at weekends.

So motorists cannot use the route overnight or at weekends.

Norman Kemp owns the Nu Venture bus company. He said: “Our drivers have not reported any abuse.

“We took on the gate locking and unlocking as a favour to the residents and developers, rather than as an obligation.

“We would soon have relinquished the task, if it had been troublesome. But roll on the much-delayed ANPR cameras!”

Cllr Stan Forecast (Con) agreed: “That there is still no camera here illustrates why people have lost confidence in the planning proceess.

“Access only by busses and emergency vehicles was a promise that has not been delivered.

“I am incredibily disappointed in how long it is taking the developer and KCC to resolve this.”

Councils outside London were granted new powers in July 2022 allowing them to enforce “moving traffic offences.”

Previously only the police and inner London councils had been able to do so.

Cameras operated by Tunbridge Wells council on a “busgate” there have generated more than £1m in fines for the council since they were installed in April last year.

Croudace was contacted for comment, but did not respond.

KCC denied there was a dispute over the signs locations.

A spokesman said: “We are working with the developer to get the ANPR cameras installed, some of the signing/posts need upgrading to allow for the new camera enforcement signage to be erected and powered.”