High Street Closure

Rebecca SimcoxOther

Thursday 19:30   Road closure

 

Updated 17:00 Thursday – HIGH STREET CLOSURE – STILL CLOSED but SQS have arrived and making progress with the tarmacing. It will be finished today but the tarmac does need 2 hours to cure. Mike from KCS is popping back to this evening (above the call of duty) and will be removing the road closed signs.

Please do NOT attempt to use the road until the signs are gone. It will be this evening. Now – who can contact Stagecoach?

It has been an interesting investigation. There are so many companies/departments involved just to connect a new build to the power networks. So inefficient and consumer unfriendly. Closing roads have huge implications. UK Power Networks subcontract to a company called SQS to make good. The didn’t get the job notice until Tuesday and this is their 5th job of the day so be kind to them.

Thursday – HIGH STREET CLOSURE – STILL CLOSED – SQS have arrived and are doing the tarmacing. It will need to cure for 2 hours but will be open later this evening. 🤞
Just spoken to UK Power Networks directly and apparently they subcontract to a company called SQS and they are booked in for sometime today!!! KCS are onsite – doing some tidying up on Cripps lane but waiting to removed the Road Closed signs once the tarmacing is done. Now talking to SQS who have confirmed they WILL be there today…

Updated 17:00 Wednesday – HIGH STREET CLOSURE – STILL CLOSED

Thank you Mike from KCS for updates: Road closure licence is until Friday. UK Power Networks have finally filled in the hole. Unfortunately it is now a different UK Power network gang to lay the tarmacing and they are not due until sometime tomorrow. 🤬 And YES they know it’s urgent.
It is a mockery and there is no accountability. KCS will be on site ready to remove signs and barriers – but they can’t do that until the tarmac is laid and had an hour to dry.

Latest guess Thurs Pm but I am beginning to think they will wait until late Friday out of sheer spite or just because they can. 🙁

Suggest sticking to Upper Reach road the Castle/Cliff road for the time being please.

Updated 12.43 Wednesday – HIGH STREET CLOSURE thank you Mike from KCS: Road closure licence is until Friday. UK Power Networks have finally arrived to fill in hole.(They were due this morning ) Unfortunately it is now a different gang who will do the tarmacing and they are not due until sometime tomorrow. 🤬 And YES they know it’s urgent. It is a mockery and there is no accountability. Latest guess is Thursday whenever ..

09:47 Wednesday – HIGH STREET CLOSURE thank you Mike from KCS: Road closure licence is until Friday. We are hoping road will reopen today Wednesday late afternoon. UK Networks made their connection yesterday and insisted on a 24 hour curing time so should start reinstating this morning – but they are not there yet  Suggest stick to Upper road/ Reach road – the Castle/Cliff road – for the time being please.

Very frustrating as works appear to be neglected……
 
Some vehicles did try and drive past Monday night. Please don’t try – road is closed- undug part of road is not wide enough and the whole trench could cave in, maybe half your car too and the road would then be shut for ages. You would not be popular!
There are additional works further down the road – photos below – Junction stations road /Dover road with 3 way traffic lights. These works have a 5 day licence and will probably need all of it as connecting to electric, waste and freshwater. But at least we can get through. And the Parish Council had not been informed
.
Update 7th Sept
The High Street between Chapel lane / Cripps lane and Post office corner will be closed from Monday 9th Sept. The licence is for 5 days.
The reason for the closure is to connect electricity to the new houses in the Cliffe’s old carpark. These are being built by Hinkins & Hinkins.
This afternoon UK Power Network explained that they and H&H would be digging a one meter by 1 meter trench on the High Street on the junction with Cripps lane on the Monday. On the Tuesday the electric connection would be joined. UK Power Networks are stating that the making good of the road afterwards would be via a third party and could take up to 3 days – upto the Friday. Hinkins & Hinkins are hopeful that they will be allowed to do the making good on the Tuesday afternoon in which case the road can be opened that evening. We hope they are right!
Highways are not responding to any requests and are busy putting up road closure signs before they are needed, incorrect diversion signs and frightening away buses.
The Parish Council have successfully now had the signs removed.
The official diversion is Upper road / Reach road. We know motorists will attempt to use Chapel lane and we also know it will be deadlock as it is a single lane road and there are very few passing spots. Try and avoid!