Villagers stormed a building site after a developer blocked a public right of way.

Borden and Grove Park residents took matters into their own hands as they demanded to know why a footpath had not reopened after a temporary closure order ended.

Abbey Homes is building 50 houses at Manor Farm, near Key Street in Sittingbourne.

It had permission from Kent County Council (KCC) to close the route, which runs from Chestnut Street through the building site to a junction of other paths, for six months from February 10.

The order ended on Saturday, August 10 but a fence continued to block it.

Abbey Homes - which has been contacted by KentOnline on four separate occasions but has failed to respond - had been due to divert the route by the time the order had finished.

On Wednesday (August 14), fed up residents pulled a gate to one side and entered the building site in the hopes of tracking down the site manager.

Among them was Vivien Smith, who lives in Borden and is a member of the Borden Wildlife Group. She said the blockage showed the developer’s “total disrespect” for local people.

She added: “The route should have been opened and there are signs outside the development that make it clear when the closure had run out so they have no excuse.

“So we decided to get our opinion across by entering the site and try and find some answers.

"We had tried to speak to someone on Saturday (August 10) before we went but no one was there.”

Chestnut Street resident Dale Sharman uses the paths around three to four times a week to head into Sittingbourne to go to the gym at Swallows Leisure Centre.

The teacher said the diversion route, which is 20 minutes longer and takes her onto the A2 past the Key Street roundabout, is “unpleasant” and means she can no longer enjoy the countryside.

She added: “I do a lot of walking in the area, walking through Borden to get to Sittingbourne, to go to the gym, to go to the shops and the closures have made it so difficult.

“I now have to go up A2 with all the air pollution and the amount of traffic and lorries.”

Cllr Mike Baldock, who represents the area on Swale council, said the situation showed “the contempt that developers had for the local residents”.

He added: “This is a well-used footpath which has been here for donkeys' years and is part of a big circle that people can use for walking.

“It's just part of that network of footpaths that we have that people use to get from A to B, but also to go and walk for relaxation, for exercise and active travel, all those things that the government is supposed to be encouraging.

“KCC really need to be taking a stronger line with these developers.”

The highways authority, in this case KCC, can demand that anyone who obstructs a public right of way (PRoW) must remove it.

If the obstruction isn't removed, the authority can do so and charge the responsible party for the cost.

However, Abbey Homes applied for a retrospective extension of the closure on Tuesday, August 13, the day before residents entered the building site.

KentOnline asked whether the developer would face punishment for not reopening or diverting the path but KCC said the process of assessing the retrospective application was ongoing.

A KCC spokesman said: “A temporary closure can be put in place initially for up to six months and this can be further extended upon application.

“KCC has now received a retrospective application to extend the closure from the operator and this is currently being assessed.

“Meanwhile, the route remains closed to protect the public and KCC is working with the developer to expedite the new alignment of the public footpath.

“Members of the public are advised to use alternative routes.”

Another footpath in the area, which runs from Key Street to School Lane, will also be closed off for six months due to the Wises Lane development.

This started on May 18 and runs until November 18.