Summary

Live Reporting

Edited by Vicky Castle. Written by Bob Dale, Craig Buchan & Emily Coady-Stemp

  1. 'Worthing to Woodingdean takes me two hours'

    Traffic queueing on the A27 in SussexBBC/Jo Rickhards

    Danny from Worthing called BBC Radio Sussex about the extra time roadworks are adding to his commute.

    "I need to go to Woodingdean three days a week for work" he said, "and it takes me two hours.

    "I've tried going along the seafront, I've tried cutting through West Dean, but once you do it, everyone does it."

  2. Listen: Mixed views in Farnham on town centre works

    Two months into the redevelopment work, BBC Surrey political reporter Jack Fiehn finds out how the town is faring

    Businesses and residents in Farnham told BBC Radio Surrey how roadworks in the town are affecting them, two months into extensive redevelopment work in the town.

    Plans include pavement widening, new green public spaces and more pedestrian controlled crossings.

    A Surrey County Council spokesperson said the aim was to "create a modern town centre which celebrates its history, reduces congestion and improves air quality".

  3. Road closure permits hit record high in Kent

    A diverted traffic sign in yellow with a black arrow on it pointing to the right. There is another sign seen from the back and a traffic cone on the pavement as well. In the background there is a low stone wall with yellow flowers growing out of it.Getty Images

    In Kent, the number of permits issued to temporarily shut roads hit a record high in 2023-24.

    Kent County Council (KCC) said in 2020-21 there were 6,604 closures for utilities, and this jumped to 10,296 in 2023-24.

    It said works also rose from 3,477 to 5,992 in the same period.

    KCC said it was a national issue and that the authority used its "limited powers" to ensure companies were adhering to the conditions of their permits.

  4. 'Traffic chaos' in south Maidstone

    A screenshot of Google maps live traffic map showing two closed signs and red dots along Loose RoadGoogle

    A viewer from Kent has emailed about problems caused by emergency gasworks on Loose Road in Maidstone.

    "We suffer from traffic chaos, not just because of volumes of traffic trying to find alternative routes, but HGVs trying to negotiate totally unsuitable narrow lanes causing blockages.

    "While the A229 has been closed those who live south of the closure have no public transport. Bus services 5 and 89 have been diverted through Boughton Monchelsea and Langley.

    "I have been told that some delivery services are refusing to make deliveries while the A229 is closed."

  5. 'Worst first quarter since the pandemic'

    BBC Radio Kent

    A stone tower with a large archway underneath it, flying a union jack flag from its turrets. Road access to the archway is blocked by orange traffic cones and yellow plastic barriers.Jo Burn/BBC

    Westgate roadworks are expected to take 44 weeks

    Lisa Carlson, the chief executive of Canterbury Business Improvement District, told BBC Radio Kent that roadworks around Westgate Towers, and elsewhere in the city, are adding to a "tough time" for local businesses.

    She said: "I know we can't please everyone with projects like this but conceptually we can all understand short term pain for long term gain."

    However she said there has been "disruption" and "a loss to business as a result of this".

    She added that she thinks this has been "the worst first quarter we've had since the pandemic" and called for more communication about why roadwork projects are necessary.

  6. 'It's taking ages to get into this area'

    Jo Burn
    BBC Radio Kent in Canterbury

    Sedat Ozdogan, wearing a red and white checked shirt and brown leather jacket, sits in his dry cleaning shopBBC/JO BURN

    Sedat Ozdogan runs Westgate Dry Cleaners in Canterbury.

    "It's been very quiet. When you drive around the city it takes ages to get from one point to another point" he told BBC Radio Kent.

    "I've got small kids going to primary school and high school, and it takes us almost an hour to go from one school to another school.

    "Customers are telling me it's taking ages to get into this area."

  7. Fears noise will put people off 'relaxing boat trips'

    Jo Burn
    BBC Radio Kent

    Brad Wheatley, wearing a white t-shirt and grey shorts, stands in a punt holding a pole on the River Stour in the centre of Canterbury.

    Brad Wheatley, who runs a punt company which runs trips on the River Stour in Canterbury, is taking a long-term view about the Westgate roadworks.

    "I'd like to make this part of town as nice as possible" he told BBC Radio Kent, "St Dunstans is a lovely part of the city.

    "Earlier on there was a lot of noise here and it's going to get closer and closer, so I can't help but think that will affect business, as I'm advertising relaxing boat trips, if you can't hear me talking to you, you won't think it's very relaxing."

  8. Traders in Canterbury say business has been hit

    Jo Burn
    BBC Radio Kent in Canterbury

    Ali Maroof, wearing a blue t-shirt and pale white dungarees, stands outside a cafe with an open sign and a picture of ice creams in the windowBBC/Jo Burn

    Traders near Westgate Towers in Canterbury say business has gone quiet since nearby roadworks began in April.

    One local business owner told BBC Radio Kent there were "no traffic and no pedestrians" passing his storefront as a result of the £1.5 million project.

    Roads surrounding the Grade I listed landmark are being closed in stages throughout the 44-week project to make the area more pedestrian-friendly, Canterbury City Council says.

    A council spokesperson says it hopes locals "will think it has all been worth it" once the work is complete.

    Ali Maroof runs Leo's Cafe on St Dunstans Street and is one of the traders affected.

    Read more here

  9. 'Important that it's as co-ordinated as possible'

    Traffic queues on the A27 at Falmer and PatchamBBC/Jo Rickhards

    James Luckhurst from Gem Motor Assist in Forest Row, East Sussex, said it was at least positive that work was being carried out.

    "I believe West Sussex alone has 45,000 potholes that need to be fixed.

    "It is good news that it's being done but a lot has been overlooked, a lot of it is late coming and we're paying the price for that.

    "It's really important that it's as co-ordinated as possible."

  10. Temporary road closure permits on the rise in Surrey

    Jack Fiehn
    Political reporter, BBC Surrey

    A road ahead closed sign which is square with white letters on a red background. There is a red triangle sign with two black arrows to show a two way street and behind you can see the top of a yellow diversion sign.Getty Images

    Surrey County Council says it is working with companies to improve traffic management

    The number of permits issued to temporarily shut roads in Surrey has risen by more than 50% in the last five years.

    A BBC Freedom of Information request to Surrey County Council showed that in 2020-21 there were 1,197 closures for utilities works, and this jumped to 1,866 in 2024-25.

    The council said it was working with companies to improve traffic management and communication with residents.

    Streetworks UK, the trade association for utilities companies, said it was "engaging constructively with highways authorities" across the country.

    You can read more here

  11. Listen: 'It's like we're under seige'

    Roadworks in Badshot Lea are the latest headache for drivers around Farnham

    Roadworks in Badshot Lea are causing "disruption" to drivers around Farnham.

    Listen to what people in the area told BBC Radio Surrey about how the roadworks were affecting them.

  12. Tell us your roadworks woes

    QR code for BBC South East

    We want to hear your stories on how roadworks are in your part of Kent, Sussex or Surrey.

    Are they getting worse? Or perhaps you think they a vital and necessary part of modern life.

    You can WhatsApp us on 08081 002250, use the QR code above or email us at southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk

  13. 'They just seem to like digging holes'

    A car driving through the village of Bobbing early on a spring morningBBC/Liz Saul

    Alan, who was driving to work near Sittingbourne, has just told BBC Radio Kent that roadworks in his area were "a nuisance" and meant he had to spend longer on the motorway each day.

    He said: "I come from Chatham down to Queenborough five days a week and it just gets in the way.

    "If I come off the A2 it takes me even longer to get to work and to get home again, so I go down the motorway.

    "They just seem to like digging holes in Sittingbourne."

  14. Welcome to our BBC South East live page

    Roadworks signs in yellow and red at a junction in Surrey

    Thanks for joining us as we launch a live page on the subject of roadworks across the South East.

    You’ve been contacting us to highlight the sheer number of works clogging up traffic in your local areas and how they are impacting businesses and communities.

    So we thought we’d take a closer look, and we'll have reporters in Kent, Sussex and Surrey today speaking to those affected and holding to account those responsible.

    Stay with us throughout the day as we bring you live updates.

    And meanwhile, you can WhatsApp us on 08081 002250 or email us at southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk