'Success story' roadworks allowed to continue

Roadworks to replace gas mains on Upper Grosvenor Road in Tunbridge Wells began on 5th May

A major roadworks project in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, has been allowed to continue because it is so far ahead of schedule.

The eastern section of Upper Grosvenor Road was closed on 5 May to allow SGN to replace ageing gas mains.

The first phase was completed two months early, SGN said, allowing the next stage to begin ahead of plan. Work originally scheduled for 2026 can now be finished by November.

Dean Newell, SGN's project manager, said the council allowed them to carry on, adding: "We were going to demobilise, come away for the Christmas period and come back next year to carry on into the town centre, but we'll soon finish by Grosvenor Church."

Dean Newell said his team were so far ahead of schedule they were allowed to start work planned for next year

Three teams have been working six days a week, often into the night, to replace 1,300 metres of gas main between Grosvenor Road and Silverdale Road.

The next phase will replace pipes from Grosvenor Bridge to Meadow Road.

"It's a success story really," said Mr Newell. "We normally get people moaning at us but we've worked really hard and I'm really proud of ourselves."

But the five-month project has affected nearby businesses.

Joseph Golding, who works in Smith's Bakery on nearby Silverdale Road, said within the first week they "saw a huge dip in customers as many stop by on the way from the town centre".

"It's still affecting trade now," he said.

Cafe assistant Zuzana Vidarmo said the roadworks have added a lot of time to her day

Zuzana Vidarmo, an assistant at Two Penny Blue cafe on Silverdale Road, said she is still trying to avoid Upper Grosvenor Road "as much as possible".

She said she uses "side roads to get places like home and my kids school".

Once complete, 3.5km (2.1 miles) of gas mains will have been replaced.

Upper Grosvenor Road is expected to fully open to traffic from 6 November.

Further gas main replacement work will be carried out in Tunbridge Wells town centre in 2026.