Leeds Castle chief executive Helen Bonser-Wilton has hit out at the “crackers” six-month closure of a major road near the attraction.

South East Water (SEW) shut the B2163 Upper Street on Monday for a £460,000 project to replace 535 metres of old and burst-prone piping.

But Mrs Bonser-Wilton said the timing of the works could push the charity into the red.

July and August are the castle’s busiest months for tourists when much of its annual income is generated.

SEW has also blocked off seven back roads to force traffic to use Willington Street in Maidstone as the main artery between the A20 and A274 and prevent rat-running.

It is anticipated traffic will build up on both A-roads as a result of the closures.

The main entrance to Leeds Castle, which is situated near Leeds village, is on the B2163 at the A20 end of the closure area.

SEW hoped starting the work in July would minimise the impact on the wider borough when children are off school or away on holiday with their families.

Mrs Bonser-Wilton said: “From our perspective, South East Water has been really helpful in making some amendments to the plans to shut the road so that we are able to carry on trading.

“But what has not been helpful is starting the work at the beginning of the school holidays. Why do this at the peak time of the tourist season? It’s crackers.

“I know there is never a good time but this makes no sense.”

Mrs Bonser-Wilto said her team has been in discussions with SEW, but it was “not ideal” to have diversion signs “all over the place”.

She added: “I understand why it started when the schools have just broken up but not when it’s happening beside one of Kent’s biggest tourist attractions.”

Asked if Leeds Castle could make a loss this year, the chief executive said: “It’s entirely likely. If you make it more difficult for people to come, it will put them off.”

Mrs Bonser-Wilton added: “Like most visitor attractions, post-pandemic, we are operating at about 80% of where we were before but it’s that 20% where our operating profit lies.

“We have £11 million in costs annually to maintain an historic castle before we even open the doors. It’s not terminal, but it’s not great.”

SEW is in charge of the road closures but took advice from Kent County Council’s highways department, Kent Highways, before announcing its intentions last month.

“It’s not terminal, but it’s not great...”

Mrs Bonser-Wilton wrote to KCC leader Roger Gough to express her concerns, and cabinet member for transport and highways, Cllr David Brazier sent a reply.

She said: “It didn’t really address the issues.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service approached Cllr Brazier for comment.

But chairman of the environment and transport cabinet committee, Cllr Seán Holden said he “has every sympathy” for the castle’s predicament.

He added: “It’s very wrong that Leeds Castle should be disrupted in this way. I have every sympathy for the position they have found themselves in.

“If people think Leeds Castle is too difficult to get to, they might go to another castle, like Bodiam, instead.

“There are road closures all over Kent at the moment and it seems they are for the convenience of the contractor rather than the residents and businesses who are affected by them.”

Cllr Holden said four years ago KCC issued 4,000 road closure permits but that has risen to 12,000 currently. Much of the increase is driven by utility companies, KCC repairs and house-building.

He has led a campaign to minimise the effects of closures on residents and people running businesses.

Cllr Holden has suggested work should only be carried out at times when minimal disruption would be caused to locals and to reopen highways at times when nothing is being done.

SEW said that it has been in lengthy consultations with Leeds Castle and found ways to mitigate against disruption.

These included keeping the main public entrance accessible from the A20 and allow another estate side entrance to be available for goods and emergency services.

A SEW spokeswoman said: “It was a requirement of Kent Highways to start the work on July 24 and we weren’t able to amend that date. Leeds Castle voiced their concerns but were restricted by what Kent Highways wanted us to do.”