A main road in Cranbrook is set to be closed for six weeks for utility works.

Southern Gas Networks will be replacing the metal mains with modern plastic pipes in the High Street and Stone Street, in a bid to increase the life of the underground network.

Phase one of the £624,000 project will be carried out for six weeks from Monday in the area around Stone Street’s junction with St David’s Bridge.

Road closures will allow for the manoeuvre of heavy plant equipment and general site safety. Diversion routes will be in place and there will still be essential access.

Linda Page who runs Pages Newsagents in the High Street said she hoped the works would not jeopardise the town’s first ever entry into Britain in Bloom, with inspectors due to visit on the first day of disruption.

She said: “Undoubtedly it will affect businesses in the High Street and more so in Stone Street, at least because of the potential mess it might make.

“I hope that it won’t put people off coming here and parish councillors and the company have worked together to make it happen at the best possible time to minimise disruption.

“The thing that couldn’t be planned for is that the Britain in Bloom judges are coming during the works, but life goes on. We just hope it won’t affect the entry.”

Phase two, which does not involve road closures, runs from Monday, September 1 to Monday, November 3 at the junction between the High Street and Angley Road, finishing at the New Road junction around nine weeks later.

Team manager at Southern Gas Networks, Steve Jones, apologised for any inconvenience, adding: “All our work is being carried out in close consultation with Kent County Council, and we will be doing everything we can to minimise disruption.

“We understand that people can get frustrated by roadworks, but the new plastic pipe has a minimum lifespan of 80 years. This means people will continue to enjoy the benefits of a safe and secure gas supply for many years to come.”

Kent County Council will be putting on a shuttle bus service while the gas works are in place, free for passengers wishing to travel on service 297 or service 5.

They will run every 15 minutes between the Co-op coach park off the High Street and the bus stops at Wilsley Pound roundabout, between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday.