A pothole-ridden road is finally set to be resurfaced following a two-year battle with highways bosses.

Beacon Oak Road in Tenterden has been blighted with craters for years and residents have been campaigning for their repair.

In January 2023, a pothole campaign group staged a protest in a bid to get Kent County Council (KCC) to step up repairs.

It came after David Ward, secretary of Tenterden Labour branch and a road safety campaigner, started a petition after feeling the situation in the town was “deadly serious”.

Now a date is in the diary for roadworkers to fix the road.

Reacting to news of the announcement, Cllr Ward described the pothole issues in Tenterden as a “long saga” and is glad the repairs are finally set to happen.

“At least now we have a fixed date,” he said.

“The road should never have got to this state.

“It’s way too late, we think it should have been done years ago because it’s just got progressively worse and the thing that frustrated us, which I think is an issue with general pothole maintenance, if you leave it so late then the cost of repairs are actually greater.

“I don’t really understand the delays but the eventual cost ends up costing more, and that’s leaving aside all the damage that gets caused to vehicles or people.

“We’re relieved that action is finally in the pipeline but it’s long overdue and having to wait so long for such a bad state of the road isn’t a sign of appropriate maintenance so we need to get on top of this in a different way.”

But, in light of temporary repairs carried out by KCC in another road in Tenterden last year, he said he hopes the work undertaken later this year is not a case of “patch and dash”.

A number of craters were patched over in East Cross in January 2023 following a surge of complaints at the end of 2022 – but just four days later, the road returned to ruin.

“If it’s an individual hole, I can see why they might do this, but in the case of Beacon Oak Road and Appledore Road, the whole road surface is destroyed so there’s no way they could be temporary patching,” he said,

“Temporary repairs here would be a huge mistake.

“You can see where they have done temporary patching before and sometimes it lasts barely a month before it’s broken up again.

“In the case of long-term neglect – like is the case in Beacon Oak Road – there’s just no option but to take the surface way back and really start again to give it a fresh start.”

KCC announced in April it would be spending £8.5 million on repairing and resurfacing roads over the next two years.

But those living in Tenterden were left scratching their heads after the town was left off the initial list of roads set for work.

From October 24 until October 29, Beacon Oak Road and Appledore Road will be shut for strengthening and resurfacing works, KCC says.

The first phase will see the road shut between the junction with the A28 Ashford Road and the junction with East Hill.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via the A28 Ashford Road, Oaks Road and East Hill.

Drivers for Woodchurch and Appledore are advised to use B2067 Woodchurch Road towards Woodchurch and then towards Appledore to join the B2080 Tenterden Road back towards Tenterden.

Residents who need to get to Craythorne, Roethorne Gardens or Green Hedges are advised to wait at the end of Golden Square where they will be advised by traffic management operatives of the approved direction of travel.

The second phase will see the route closed between the junction with the A28 Ashford Road to the junction with Shrubcote.

The same diversion via Woodchurch and Appledore is also due to be enforced.

Residents who need to get to Shrubcote Estate, Limes Close and William Judge Close should follow the diversion and access via the 'Appledore end' of B2080 Appledore Road.

Pedestrian access will be maintained during the works.

A KCC spokeswoman said: “Resurfacing works are major works which need to be properly planned and scheduled alongside other works on our road network.

“Due to conflicting gas roadworks nearby and other road maintenance, the only available slot for the resurfacing works on the Beacon Oak Road in Tenterden was October.

“In the meantime, we have regularly inspected the road to ensure that it remains safe for road users.

“The works are scheduled for October 24, 25 and 28, between 7.30pm and 5am each night and will resurface around 3,400 sq m of road at a cost of about £100,000.

“Once completed, these works will ensure this area remains pothole free for many years to come."