A petition has been set up for another route to the east of the Island after a serious accident led to drivers being stranded by a seven-hour road closure.

A 58-year-old man and a 51-year-old woman were taken to hospital after the bike they were riding collided with a grey Vauxhall Corsa at around 12.30pm in Leysdown Road on Sunday, September 19.

Now concerned residents have set up a petition after seven-hour road closures caused mayhem and meant drivers couldn’t get to Warden or Leysdown due to the crash.

The only other way to get to these parts of Sheppey was via Donkey Hill - an unmade road - which led to many getting stuck.

Warden resident Hazel Pinner set up the petition to urge Kent County Council to lay asphalt on the road to provide another route out of the area.

She said: “Donkey Hill could be used as a second route if it was made accessible by car, but at the moment it’s not and a lot of people were stranded on the road as it was closed for long.

“People had medication at home, dogs in cars, no food or drink or access to for hours.

“I feel like the amount of homes and caravans we have in that area of the Island, there should be a second access route. If someone had an accident and needed an ambulance or something in Warden Bay or Leysdown I don’t know if they’d have been able to get through.

“Many people couldn’t get to work and would’ve lost out on money because of it.”

The 36-year-old administrator explained that since starting the petition, however, she’s heard a lot of opposition to it from residents on Donkey Hill and Thorn Hill over concerns of traffic passing their houses.

Nevertheless, she added: “The roads that are on the Island are not enough for the amount of people who live there, especially trying to get over to Eastchurch, Warden Bay and Leysdown as only one road goes that way.”

Michelle Heath was at the scene of the crash and backed the idea for a petition to be started.

She said: “Leysdown only has one road in and out and it’s not suitable if it’s closed for one reason or another.

“The area of road where the crash happened unfortunately seems to have plenty of accidents, sadly quite serious ones.”

Sign the petition here.

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