Charges have been suspended at a car park in a bid to ease traffic chaos caused by gas works.

Halfway Road in Minster is currently shut, causing queues heading into Sheerness via Marine Parade.

SGN is carrying out major pipe upgrades which are set to last seven weeks.

The road closed yesterday (November 4) and is expected to reopen on Monday, December 23.

A spokesman previously told KentOnline: “This work will ensure a continued safe and reliable supply of gas is delivered to nearby homes and businesses.

“This is part of our 30-year programme of work to replace our old mains, reaching the end of their useful lives, with new, reliable plastic pipe.”

Contractor WCB Utilities has put up barriers from the junction of St Katherine Road to Power Station Road.

As a result, drivers found themselves caught in a backlog of traffic during rush hour yesterday.

One motorist said it took him around 30 minutes to travel from The Broadway in Minster to the centre of Sheerness – a journey of approximately three miles.

He added: “By far the worst problem is the cars parked on the road in the vicinity of the Ship on Shore.

“This is due to parking charges that leave the car park opposite the pub empty.”

In July 2023, Swale council announced that the facility wouldn’t be free anymore and last month residents called for the prices to be reduced as they felt it was too steep.

Since then, three councillors have taken to social media to express their frustration and have looked at possible solutions.

Speaking earlier Cllr Mike Whiting (Ind), who represents Queenborough and Halfway, said: “To help ease traffic chaos along Marine Parade while Halfway Road is closed by the gas people, I’ve suggested to Swale council that it suspends parking charges in the Ship on Shore car park.

“No one is parking there anyway and it may get some of the cars off Marine Parade and help keep the road clear.”

Minster Cliffs ward councillor, Tom Nundy, agreed and said: “It never ceases to amaze me that closing one road on the Island causes such traffic chaos.

“With the Halfway Road being closed, traffic along Brielle Way and Marine Parade in Sheerness is very heavy at the moment.

“I can’t help but think that the traffic on Marine Parade is exacerbated by the amount of cars parked on the roadside; perhaps this is due to people not parking in the Ship on Shore car park?

“I have written to the relevant staff at Swale council, the chair of the community committee and all of the Island and KCC councillors to suggest removing the parking charges at the car park while these roadworks are taking place.

“I have also asked for a sensible conversation to take place at the next community committee meeting to discuss the parking charges at this car park and the possibility of resident permits for people that live on Marine Parade.”

Cllr Dolley Wooster (Lab) addressed the idea of a parking enforcement focus in the area.

She believes KCC Highways officers should visit between 8am and 10am, as well as 4pm and 8pm, to ensure the surrounding roads are “safe as they can be” during the closure.

Emergency services had to be called following a crash along Marine Parade last Friday (November 1) when several people were injured.

The Sheerness ward councillor added: “As promised I have emailed Swale, KCC and other relevant organisations to talk about the traffic issues our residents are suffering because of the road closure at Halfway.

“I am incredibly concerned about safety in this area.”

Swale council has now agreed to make the Ship on Shore car park free for the next few weeks to help ease congestion.

A spokesman said today (Tuesday): “Due to the roadworks taking place in the area, we have suspended charging at the Ship on Shore Car park to allow local residents to more easily park off the main road.

“...we’d like to remind people that inappropriate parking on the main road can result in a penalty charge notice.”

“Charges are suspended until the end of day on December 3, or earlier if the works are finished before then.

“Disabled bays and out of bay parking will still be enforced to maintain the safe operation of the car park and we’d like to remind people that inappropriate parking on the main road can result in a penalty charge notice.”

A KCC representative added: "We are aware of traffic issues related to the SGN works on Halfway Road.

“We have been speaking with SGN and have raised the concerns and the suggestions to manage the traffic.

“As SGN is responsible for these works, they are responsible for traffic management. SGN has said they will be monitoring the situation."