Frustrated residents have condemned their neighbourhood as "messy, dangerous, and noisy" following repeated bin collection failures amid a five-week road closure outside their homes. Chaos has ensued on Silver Hill Road in Ashford, Kent, which was shut down last Tuesday (April 22) and won't be accessible until the end of May due to gas works, resulting in bin collections being skipped, an increase in disruptive noise from the works, and lengthy detours for drivers.

The situation worsens as some residents find themselves cut off from public transport, while others express safety concerns over the now 'access-only' road. 59 year old local Leela Romaji expressed her distress: "It's really noisy. I have a three-month-old baby who is trying to sleep but can't. The bins have been a problem too, as they were meant to come on Wednesday [but didn't]. So I hope this doesn't keep happening."

Having called the area home for over 15 years, she also pointed out the risk posed by the numerous work vehicles squeezing through the narrow street. Despite normally being a one-way road, Silver Hill Road has temporarily adopted a two-way system to accommodate the ongoing works.

Romaji warned: "It's very dangerous driving here now. People have to be really careful if cars are coming towards each other. And that doesn't even include worries about emergency service vehicles." Meanwhile, local resident Maggie Moore, 76, has been left stranded due to the closure, describing the situation as "terrifying at [her] age". She lamented: "I get the bus from Silver Hill Road but I'm not able to now so have to walk."

She also expressed concern for other elderly people in her position when it rains, as there are no nearby bus stops. She described the entire situation as "The whole thing has just been diabolical" and voiced fears about navigating alternative routes, questioning, "It's terrifying at my age having to go this way and that way and thinking, 'Will I ever get home?'" She also criticised the state of the road, calling it "I think the state of the road is disgraceful too, with how messy it is."

Mark Chamberlain, a 62 year old retired insurance broker who has lived along the stretch for 19 years, said he's never seen so many roadworks. He stated: "For me, the biggest problem isn't what started last week, but the fact that it's been 18 months of non-stop closures for things like gas and water."

He pointed out that the area is a hotspot for closures and mentioned a slow water leak that's been ongoing for weeks. He suggested that now would be a good time for the water company to address the issue alongside the gas works, but feared this could lead to further road closures.

Chamberlain also highlighted the impact on those who rely on buses, including his wife who suffers from arthritis, saying the closures make it even more difficult to reach their usual destinations. The closure has also hit local businesses hard. Sue Calland, owner of Crystal Clear Home Cleaning, revealed she can now no longer reach many of her clients due to the disruption.

A 44 year old woman has criticised the closure of a road, describing it as a "nightmare". She stated: "I could barely get through this road [when I tried], and it means I'm having to allow another extra 20 minutes to get to my next job." She added that the situation was disrupting her schedule for the rest of the day.

The woman also expressed her disbelief at the length of time it would take to resolve the issue, saying: "I really don't think it should take five weeks for a road like this to be sorted." She urged for the matter to be prioritised in order to reopen the road. She also highlighted the additional costs incurred due to the closure, stating: "It's costing more fuel too, so we're just not going to want to come to jobs this way if it stays like this."

Meanwhile, Howard Lapish, who operates the Hooden Bar and Grill located in the midst of the roadworks, voiced his concerns about potentially having to shut down his business due to the loss of trade. He labelled the six-month-long works an "absolute joke."

In response, SGN issued a statement saying that their works were "progressing ahead of schedule". A spokesperson said: "We were able to reopen the A2070 Kennington Road following the completion of our first phase and began our second phase of work – originally planned to start in June – last Tuesday (April 22)."

They acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the roadworks but emphasised the importance of the upgrades being carried out, stating: "However, the essential network upgrades we're carrying out here will ensure nearby properties receive a safe and reliable gas supply." They assured that the site is regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

"We've addressed any issues regarding equipment being moved around our site which may have temporarily blocked access to some homes. Refuse collections are being made around our site, and access for emergency vehicles is maintained. Our team are on-hand to support these vehicles with access while we carry out our work."