Residents in Newington near Sittingbourne have been cut off since last night after the A2 was closed for emergency gas repairs.

Motorists are unable to drive through the village which is on the main Sittingbourne to Medway route.

Workmen from gas company SGN have been trying to pinpoint two leaks under the road.

The closure has caused chaos in the surrounding lanes as lorries attempt to get through.

Sheree Richardson, who was heading to Lower Halstow from Bobbing on the school run, said: "A lorry was coming down a country lane which was extremely dangerous as this part of the lane has soft sides and he just punched his way through."

Gary Johnson said the A2 through Newington was a joke. "Come and take a look, maybe ask questions of the contractors, police, parish council, Cllr Mike Whiting et al," he said. "HGVs are coming through the lanes - lanes that aren’t passable, only by single file. This village needs your help, please."

Joanne Briggs added: "We are by the road closed signs at Denham Road. The amount of people slowing down to read the “road ahead closed” signs then ignoring them and driving through anyway is staggering. They can’t actually get anywhere once they get to the top of Church Lane."

Jayne Venables, who runs the village's Facebook page, said: "We don't have any problems with the gas men. It's an emergency so they need to do the work.

"But there isn't enough warning signs. And the lorry drivers who do bother to read what little warning signs there are, just ignore them anyway and try to use the narrow lanes instead of turning around and using the M2."

She said many village children could not get to school this morning despite attempts by bus companies to re-route services at the last minute.

She also fired a broadside at Kent County Council's highways boss Cllr Mike Whiting. She said: "Help is urgently required to stop lorries especially using Bull Lane and Playstool Road as a diversion. There are vehicles that have been stuck for over an hour now using this route.

"Villagers generally understand that these are emergency works which need to be rectified. However, maybe we need to look urgently at WHY these utilities require so many repairs. I suspect that hundreds of HGVs a day using a road clearly not fit for purpose has something to do with it."

Cllr Whiting (Con) said today: "The gas people have isolated one of the leaks between Playstool and the pedestrian crossing. That's the good news.

"The bad news is they still have not narrowed the search for the leak in the other direction. So, the road remains closed and all diversions remain in place."

The closure could not have come at a worse time as Highways England are planning to close the alternative M2 for the second weekend running for resurfacing work.

Cllr Whiting said: "The next closure of the M2 is planned for 8pm on Saturday night. Everyone is hoping SGN can sort this before then. If they cannot, I have asked the M2 to remain open, as it did last night.

"I am told that SGN has alerted the schools.

"I have also alerted Kent Highways to the dangers of relying on Boxted Lane as a diversion route given the weather forecast for heavy rain. As we know, the lane regularly floods and becomes impassable at times."

The A2 was closed to through traffic from 9pm last night from the car wash to Playstool.

Closures of Bull Lane and Church Lane will continue and diversions will remain in place.

The road was not reopened for rush-hour today which caused headaches for commuters and parents on the school run.

Several bus services have had to be cancelled or changed.

Swale council was unable to empty dustbins because of the traffic congestion and is sending crews back tomorrow (Saturday).

The council tweeted this afternoon: "Unfortunately due to the emergency road closure in Newington, crews have been unable to empty the bins from some roads in the area.

"Our contractor will be heading back tomorrow to empty these missed bins. We're sorry for the inconvenience this may cause."

To add to everyone's problems, Kings Ferry warned that its commuters buses from London could be affected.

It tweeted: "Please be aware, traffic on the A2 is heavy this afternoon following an earlier broken down HGV at the Dartford Tunnel plus a couple of RTCs. We'll keep you updated with the latest information throughout the journey home."

Workers have been stationed at Key Street roundabout at Sittingbourne and at the A2's junction with Playstool to turn around lorries and other through traffic.

Residents and businesses who need access to the High Street are being allowed through.

Cllr Whiting added: "There is no word from the gas company as to when the road will re-open but everyone is pushing hard to sort it as quickly as possible.

"They have put online that it will be closed to next Friday, July 26. This is a legal notice with a statutory minimum period, I am told. I have asked for that to be amended to something more realistic and accurate."

Bus Services

Travelmasters (issued Thursday night)

Due to A2 closure at Newington the following alterations will be made to our 372 services from Lower Halstow and Upchurch:

After collecting students from Upchurch or Lower Halstow the buses will use A2 London-bound then the M2 A249 to Key Street roundabout then go back into service along the normal route.

All passengers who normally board at Newington will have to board these buses at the Tuck In cafe on the A2 or outside Pearce and Batt Garage at Key Street roundabout.

Alternatively, you can use our 370h service which leaves Holly Blue Drive, Iwade at 7.35am.

Chalkwell Coach Hire (issued Thursday night)

326/327/328 users: We are aware that the A2 is closed from tonight and may not be open in the morning. We will monitor news from KCC and check the situation in the morning. The backup plan for school services if the closure is still in place will be:

328 to Sittingbourne will start from the Key St/Pearce and Batt layby at 0755.

Upchurch and Lower Halstow pupils can board the 321 and IB1 buses from Iwade opposite School Lane at 0745 and 0750.

The 327 towards Medway will operate as normal to Key Street then via the M2 to Gillingham.

We apologise for any inconvenience but this is out of our hands.

M2 Roadworks

Meanwhile, talks are going on behind the scenes to alleviate huge tailbacks during planned roadworks on the M2 and A2.

Cllr Mike Whiting of Kent County Council said: "I wanted to update you on the current position of roadworks on the M2 and A2 which caused so much disruption last weekend.

"I am pleased to say that Highways England has agreed to keep the road open between M2 junctions 7 (Brenchley Corner exit for Canterbury and Faversham) and 5 (exit to A249 to Maidstone, Sittingbourne and Sheppey) on Friday which is one of the busiest weekends of the year.

"Highways England will also monitor traffic conditions throughout Saturday to see if work can continue.

"Kent County Council has also requested that no work is carried out on the last week in August which is also peak travel time during the school holidays.

"KCC has also ensured that overnight works will finish at 4.30am rather than 6am to ensure commuter coaches to London will be able to get into the capital.

"Highways England has also been asked to ensure there is sufficient signing and messaging to warn people of the motorway closure.

"Additionally, works that were planned to take place on the A2 at Faversham and Boughton are now not taking place which should also reduce the impact on road users, businesses and residents."

* SGN can be contacted at: www.sgn.co.uk

* Kent County Council Highways helpline is: 03000 418181

* For details of roadworks see: http://bit.ly/2XPhFfL

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