Both the Council and the town’s MP are trying to halt attempts by gas company SGN to dig up Calverley Road on November 11.
If the plans go ahead, drivers would be forced to take a long-winded diversion to get from one side of the town centre to the other, effectively isolating both Monson Road and Camden Road.
This would add further woes to the traders in that part of the town centre who have already endured nearly three months of roadworks at the top of Mount Pleasant.
These works have already been delayed, but the Council insist they will be finished for Remembrance Sunday next month.
But the day after, SGN plan to dig up Calverley Road, meaning motorists – already diverted down Crescent Road, will no longer be able to turn into Calverley Road.
Instead, cars, taxis and buses will have to drive up Lansdowne Road turn left at Garden Road where they will be faced with a no turn sign at the junction of Camden Road.
The road works are scheduled to end on November 22.
Both the Council and Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark are aware of the plans and are attempting to get SGN to postpone the works, which the gas company say are for ‘essential upgrades’ to replace gas mains with new plastic pipes.
A spokesperson for the gas distribution company said: “We’ve agreed our project in close consultation with Kent County Council and our work will last approximately two weeks.
“We understand people can get frustrated by roadworks. However, the new plastic pipe has a lifespan of 80 years. This means that when the work is complete, people will continue to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable gas supply for years to come.”
But Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark told the Times: “Shops in and around Monson Road have already been adversely impacted by the prolonged delay in completing the public Realm Works at the top of Mount Pleasant and the proposed works by SGN will heap more misery on traders during the vital run up to Christmas.
“This is why I have asked SGN and Kent County Council to push back this non-vital upgrade to the gas mains on Calverley Road until after the New Year.”
Council Leader Alan McDermott has also written to the gas company, telling them: “The timing of this could not be worse. The town centre has been affected by a number of works including a refurbishment of a major car park and a road closure along Mount Pleasant for more than three months.
“A two-week closure of Calverley Road this close to Christmas could be the final straw for many of them,” he warned, adding: “I strongly object to the timing of this work and would strongly, strongly encourage you to postpone it until after Christmas.”
It is not the first time that SGN have been asked recently to postpone road works. Gas repairs on Tonbridge High Street were also halted last month after intervention by the town’s MP, Tom Tugendhat, and Council Leader Nicolas Heslop.
A spokesperson for the gas distribution company said: “We’ve agreed our project in close consultation with Kent County Council and our work will last approximately two weeks.
“We understand people can get frustrated by roadworks. However, the new plastic pipe has a lifespan of 80 years. This means that when the work is complete, people will continue to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable gas supply for years to come.”
But Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark told the Times: “Shops in and around Monson Road have already been adversely impacted by the prolonged delay in completing the public Realm Works at the top of Mount Pleasant and the proposed works by SGN will heap more misery on traders during the vital run up to Christmas.
“This is why I have asked SGN and Kent County Council to push back this non-vital upgrade to the gas mains on Calverley Road until after the New Year.”
Council Leader Alan McDermott has also written to the gas company, telling them: “The timing of this could not be worse. The town centre has been affected by a number of works including a refurbishment of a major car park and a road closure along Mount Pleasant for more than three months.
“A two-week closure of Calverley Road this close to Christmas could be the final straw for many of them,” he warned, adding: “I strongly object to the timing of this work and would strongly, strongly encourage you to postpone it until after Christmas.”
It is not the first time that SGN have been asked recently to postpone road works. Gas repairs on Tonbridge High Street were also halted last month after intervention by the town’s MP, Tom Tugendhat, and Council Leader Nicolas Heslop.
