Horton Kirby faces 12 weeks of road closures as SGN gas works start in January
The A225 Dartford Road will close in two phases from Monday 4 January, with Eglantine Lane and Franks Lane shut at Rays Hill. Kent County Council says its modelling showed around 70% of A225 drivers would otherwise cut through the village.
Gas network upgrades in Horton Kirby will close the A225 Dartford Road in two phases from Monday 4 January, with work beginning at the junction with Station Road. SGN expects the project to take approximately 12 weeks, including reinstatement. Eglantine Lane and Franks Lane will also be shut to motorists at their junctions with Rays Hill for the duration of the works, and Franks Lane will also be closed during the second phase.
Kent County Council said traffic modelling informed the decision to close Eglantine Lane. Peter Osborne, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “In this specific case, traffic modelling has shown that around 70% of drivers using the A225 would divert through Horton Kirby if Eglantine Lane remained open. The village roads are not designed to cope with that level of extra traffic, so closing Eglantine Lane is the best way to manage things safely.”
What SGN says
SGN said that when it closes a road it is required by law to divert traffic along a similar type and size of highway, which is why the signed diversion follows A and B roads suitable for HGVs rather than smaller local roads. The company said Eglantine Lane and Franks Lane are being closed to prevent diverted traffic from using narrow village roads with limited passing places and, in places, no pavements. SGN said alternatives, including a banksman, temporary barriers and additional signage, were explored with KCC and were not viable.
A spokesperson for SGN said: “These works are essential to ensure we can continue to provide local homes and businesses with a safe and reliable gas supply.”
The spokesperson added: “We recognise the impact these essential works might cause and have worked closely with Kent County Council to do everything we can to minimise disruption. More detailed information about this project can be found on our website, and we will keep local people updated as works progress.”
Access, buses and the diversion
SGN said pedestrian and emergency vehicle access will be maintained throughout the works. The signed diversion route runs via A225 Main Road, Parsonage Lane, Darenth Hill, B260 Green Street Green Road, B260 Main Road, B260 Longfield Road, A227 Wrotham Road, A227 Gravesend Road, A20 London Road and A20 Gorse Hill. SGN said variable message signs and advance warning signs will be in place on approach routes, and closure details are being shared with sat nav and live traffic providers.
SGN said the Kent and Medway Resilience Team is part of the planning for the works and that it is continuing to work with the emergency services on access throughout the programme. The company said it has spoken to bus operators, including Go-Coach and Arriva Kent Country, and to school transport operators, and that they have indicated services should be able to continue, subject to their final route and timetable assessments.
Mr Osborne said: “A signed diversion route will be in place throughout the works, and residents will have access to their homes, and Eglantine Villa Care Home, at all times.” He added: “We have also worked with local bus operators to maintain services in the area, although some routes will need to be diverted for the duration of the works.”
SGN said businesses that believe they have incurred losses as a direct result of the works can contact the company by email at compensation.claims@sgn.co.uk, and that claims are assessed against its policy and eligibility criteria.
Residents’ concerns
One resident, writing to Kent Local News and other news outlets on 9 November, said the closures run from 4 January to 26 March 2027 and that the published diversion route is approximately 32.65km, with the One.Network roadworks site estimating a journey of around 38 minutes. The resident raised concerns about families in Saxon Place, school journeys, older residents reaching GP appointments, people who do not drive, winter conditions on the surrounding country lanes, and extra fuel costs.
The resident wrote: “Twelve weeks is not a short period of inconvenience. It is almost three months of disruption, during the coldest and potentially most difficult time of the year.”
Residents have started an online petition on change.org titled “Proposed road closures in Horton Kirby and surrounding areas“.
Questions not yet answered
The resident’s letter says residents were told that four sections of gas main were left unfinished during earlier work because SGN’s maps did not correctly show where the pipes were. Kent Local News asked SGN whether that account was correct, and why those sections could not be completed at the time. SGN’s response did not address this question, and Kent Local News has not been able to verify the resident’s account.
Kent Local News also asked KCC whether residents would be consulted, or a public meeting held, before the work starts, and asked SGN whether any support would be offered to residents facing extra travel costs. Neither response addressed these questions.