Chaos has ensued after a 10ft wide sinkhole appeared on a Kent road and locals are still waiting it to be fixed two weeks on.
The void – on Hackney Road in the Fant area of Maidstone- is allegedly causing motorists to move barriers, mount the pavement and even drive the wrong way on the road to avoid it.
The sinkhole has been cordoned off next to its junction with one-way Milton Street – forcing motorists coming out of the road to turn left not right.
As the school holidays start and more children are out on the street, residents say they are now worried about their safety with local Tracy Sultana describing the situation as ‘really dangerous.’
Another resident, Emma Archer-Simms, said: ‘People are driving the wrong way down Milton Street, Dover Street and Pope Street, and with people mounting the kerb to get around, reports South West News.
The sinkhole is cordoned off but some motorists have been moving barriers to drive around it
‘With school holidays approaching, it could be a child who is seriously injured or killed.’
The county councillor for the area, Cllr Chris Passmore, and Cllr Milham met some residents on Sunday to discuss the issues.
Cllr Kimmy Milham, for Fant and Oakwood said ‘There have been many near misses and residents have observed cars driving the wrong way as often as once every 15 minutes.’
It is not the first time the area has dealt with a sinkhole.
Cllr Passmore said: ‘There is a general problem with sinkholes in this area.. This one is only about 600m from a similar one that we had in Gatland Lane, and there have been several before not far away in Tonbridge Road.
Last year, residents faced road closures when a void emerged on Gatland Lane.
It was believed to be caused by a burst in the South-East water network.
Cllr Passmore reassured residents that he wanted to fix the new sinkhole as soon as possible but reminded them that ‘it took about 16 weeks to fix the Gatland Lane void.
He added that he has written to Cllr Neil Baker, the Kent County Council (KCC) cabinet member for highways, asking them that signage be improved and the diversion made clearer.
He agreed that it is a dangerous situation and ‘residents are correct to be worried.’
The upper part of Hackney Road has been closed while the sinkhole waits to be fixed
Cllr Milham added: ‘Drivers going the wrong way down Milton Street know they are doing wrong and tend to speed up to get through as quickly as possible.
‘Of course, that makes it even more dangerous.’
While the previous void was identified as a burst in South-East water network, this time, special dyes identified the cause as a leaking surface drain.
However, KCC said they were not responsible for the issue, as the drain fell under the responsibility of Southern Water.
A spokesman for Southern Water said: ‘A surface water sewer has collapsed.
‘Our teams are working to survey the damage before making repairs which will involve a deep excavation. However, due to the depth and location of the pipe this will require a road closure.’
At this point there is no timeline on when the repairs will be completed.
The road closure has also disrupted a local bus route.
A spokesperson for Nu Venture Bus company said: ‘We are currently serving all the route except the section between St Michael’s Road and Hackney Road.
‘So the bus is departing Maidstone on the normal line of route to St Michael’s, then going via the A26 and back in Fant Lane and Gatland Lane.
‘In the other direction, it is leaving Gatland Lane, then going ahead to Fant Lane, Hartnup Street, A26, St Michael’s, then back on the normal route to Maidstone.’
The councillors are holding a further meeting at the sinkhole on July 26 at 7pm to discuss progress on the void.
