Fed-up traders have vented their fury after their road shut for nine weeks without notice – only to reopen then suddenly close again.

Newsagent Bhavna Patel haemorrhaged customers for more than two months after Kent Highways suddenly shut King Street, Sandwich, amid safety fears.

But days after the town centre route reopened and footfall returned, a Southern Water sewer collapsed on Thursday, prompting it to shut again for emergency works.

Mrs Patel and her husband, who have run the Sweet Shop and Sandwich Convenience Store for more than five years, say the radio silence since the closure is frustrating.

She says receiving deliveries is more difficult than when the road was shut before as Southern Water vehicles are blocking the way.

“They didn’t communicate with anybody,” she said.

“Our takings went back to normal as soon as the road was open, but now it’s shut again they’ve gone back down.

“It only just reopened so we’re very frustrated.

“Even though it’s not a high street it’s a main road in Sandwich and we do better when traffic can go down it.”

She went on to explain that the work started on Thursday but they were not there at the weekend.

“They could have pushed it back to start on Monday so we still had the weekend unaffected,” she said.

“One of our deliveries couldn’t get through on the first day because two big vans arrived and blocked the road completely.

“It’s worse than before. Even though the work was being carried out further down the road, they parked outside our shop so my husband had to drive to the delivery van and collect the stuff, which included ice, frozen food, milk, wine and more, and load it into his car then bring it to the shop.

“He had to try and dodge between the two vans which were blocking the road. We’d always been able to park outside our shop to load and unload but now we can’t.

“When the road was shut before, we still had access to one side of the road so our deliveries could get closer. They could also use the layby but the Southern Water vehicles are blocking the layby too.”

Cllr Emmet Csuka from Sandwich Town Council said it has been a “very disruptive” few months for King Street traders.

“Whilst everyone was resigned to the need for the further closure, so that Southern Water could deal with the collapsed drain, it’s another blow for the shops and cafes as we move into the height of the tourist season,” he said.

“Hopefully, this latest work will soon be finished so that the street can return to normal and businesses can do what they do best, which is to provide a quality experience to local residents and visitors to the town.”

Dover District Council member Dan Friend (Con) added: “As a community, we understand the challenges that the recent closure by Southern Water to repair the sewer system has brought. It is however promising to see Southern Water taking comprehensive steps to rectify the damaged pipework that potentially led to the previous building problems.

“In these challenging times, it’s more important than ever to rally behind our local businesses. They are the backbone of our community and continue to provide exceptional service despite the circumstances. King Street may be temporarily closed to vehicles due to these essential repairs, but let’s not forget that our local businesses remain open, vibrant, and ready to serve you.

“I urge everyone to continue supporting our local businesses.”

A Southern Water spokesperson said work to repair a collapsed sewer in the road is expected to be completed by the end of Friday, May 24.

“We’re completing a dig to access and survey the sewer. After that, our teams will assess the extent of the collapse and start working on repairs,” they said.

“We’re sorry for the disruption this is causing residents and businesses.”