00:00Three weeks ago Loose Road was closed for Roadworks.
00:06It's caused gridlock traffic and damage to diversion roads,
00:09but it's also causing a noticeable difference to local businesses.
00:13Our local wet trade hasn't been affected too much,
00:17but definitely our food trade.
00:20We've noticed it at the weekends,
00:22especially when we've got our tables booked in,
00:25people ringing up because they're trying to get round the traffic.
00:28We've had tables cancel their reservations on the day as well.
00:33I mean, food, especially from Monday to Friday,
00:38it's definitely gone down by half.
00:41You know, it's not just me that's probably going to suffer,
00:44but it's probably everybody else that's sort of this end of town as well.
00:48And if you're thinking of going to pet an animal to de-stress from the traffic,
00:51you might have trouble doing that as well.
00:53The majority of us start about 8, 8.30.
00:56There was a couple of us got in about 9,
00:59so the normal journey that would have taken 10 minutes took about an hour this morning.
01:02And we're hearing that visitors, it's the same for them as well.
01:06Obviously, it's more important for us to be here because if we're not here,
01:10we can't serve the public and we can't be here to tend the goats.
01:13But yes, it's been chaotic.
01:16I mean, there's queues both ways in the roads and actually from one of the main road junctions,
01:21right past our turning to the sanctuary.
01:25Yeah, it's chaotic. It is chaotic.
01:28While some Maidstone residents and businesses worry that the closure will last until Christmas,
01:33SGN have confirmed that everything is on track to close in two weeks.
01:37In a statement, they said that we're on track to complete this work,
01:41enabling the safe reopening of the road by Monday 24th November.
01:45Sign diversions are in place for affected motorists, while the A229 loose road is closed.
01:51There are no plans to alter the agreed routes.
01:54With some drivers using unsuitable side roads and causing congestion,
01:58new signs, marshals and navigation updates are in place to keep traffic on official diversions.
02:04A spokesperson for the Kent County Council added that they understand and sympathise with the concerns raised by residents
02:11regarding the impact of the recent road closures.
02:14SGN have advised us that these works are emergency and essential to maintain gas supply to residents and businesses,
02:21particularly as winter approaches and gas demand increases.
02:25We've actually got a Christmas fair on the 13th December.
02:28So we really want our visitors to be able to get through because they're all booking online.
02:32So obviously, once they pay, they pay and book at the same time.
02:36So we do really want them to be able to get to us.
02:40Because obviously it'd be quite stressful for us to have to refund everyone if they can't get here.
02:44So yeah, that's a good thing.
02:46So hopefully they stick to their word and that will happen.
02:49So in the lead up to Christmas, a time when trade matters the most,
02:52locals hope they will feel the cheer instead of the traffic.
02:55Kristen Hawthorne for KMTV, Maidstone.
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