Anger as roadworks from burst water main overrun
BBCResidents of a Kent village have expressed anger over traffic congestion caused by overrunning roadworks to repair a burst water main.
The A225 Main Road through Sutton-at-Hone, near Dartford, is down to single lane traffic due to the roadworks which were scheduled to be completed by 27 July.
Coral Hopkins, who has lived in the village for 83 years, said: "It is like the M25 here now."
Thames Water, which is responsible for the water main, have been approached for comment by BBC Radio Kent.
Main Road was initially closed on 21 July outside Sutton-at-Hone Library after a water main burst, which caused flooding.
Thames Water engineers stopped the leak, enabling one side of the road to remain open, but the repairs to the other side have been ongoing since.
Suzanne King, a receptionist at TaxAssist Accountants, on the same side of the road as the library, said water from the burst main had entered the company's property.
"It has been quite worrying, and I must admit they did rapidly put the sandbags down but we have been flooded quite a few times here over the years," she said.
She said the roadworks were affecting other local businesses.
"They are up in arms about it. Our clients are coming to us one way or another but theirs probably aren't stopping here."
George Holt, who represents the area on Dartford Borough Council, said: "Thames Water have really made a dog's dinner with this.
"Given how much money Thames Water takes from us and how much they frankly pay themselves, we've got a lot of questions as to how they're actually spending that and is it actually in the best interest of people here in Dartford?"
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