Stop the two-month closure of the main road (20 October – 23 December 2025)
We, the undersigned residents, businesses, and road users of Graveney and the surrounding area, strongly oppose the planned two-month closure of the main road for SGN gas works.
This closure is excessive, unsafe, and unnecessary. We know that:
• The impact will be disastrous. When the road has been closed before, Graveney has suffered total gridlock. Monkshill Road and Church Lane cannot cope with the diverted traffic. If the A299 has issues at the same time, drivers flood into Monkshill Road — a single-track lane — creating chaos, blockages, and dangerous conditions.
• Past closures have been mismanaged. Diversion signs have been wrong or left in place after works, leading drivers into dead ends and deterring business. Roads have been blocked even when no work was being carried out. Residents have been denied fair access while HGVs have been allowed through.
• Lives are put at risk. Ambulances, carers, and emergency services cannot reach people in time when the village is cut off. During winter, the diversion has no street lighting, increasing the risk of accidents
• The works could be done differently. We know that total closures are often chosen because they are cheaper and easier for contractors, not because they are unavoidable. This is a choice of cost-cutting over community safety and wellbeing.
Under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Kent County Council and SGN have a duty to coordinate works to minimise disruption (Sections 59–60) and must not cause unreasonable delay (Section 66). A two-month full closure of Graveney’s only through-route fails these legal duties.
We therefore demand that SGN and Kent County Council:
1. Scrap the full closure and instead carry out phased works with temporary traffic lights, keeping at least one lane open.
2. Provide accurate, timely, and consistent information to residents and businesses.
3. Guarantee emergency access and fair treatment of residents.
4. Coordinate with bus companies and local businesses to prevent unnecessary isolation and disruption.
5. Compensate those who lose time, money, and trade as a result of these works.
Graveney is not prepared to be cut off again. We call on SGN and Kent County Council to respect their legal obligations and our community by finding a fairer, safer alternative.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
September 17, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
September 13, 2025
148 Comments
As a home to school transport provider we use this road daily, as we collect a child from Graveney. The children are already on the vehicle for the maximum time without lengthy diversions down narrow country roads in a mini bus. We need to be able to transport them to school safely.
affects two school runs into Faversham and canterbury. Wife runs business from home and will lose business as a result. Monks Hill diversion is unsuitable and unsafe due to the volume of traffic due to Graveney primary school. , local businesses and Farming heavy vehicles.
A total road block is totally unacceptable for residents that still need to go shopping and attend medical appointments. I am being treated for pancreatic cancer - how do I visit the hospital in Canterbury ?
I am a resident of Goodnestone and feel we are being unfairly treated and abandoned to “get on with it” by an enforced total road closure, when a partial road closure with access via the use of temporary traffic lights, would be a much more considerate and constructive option.
My severely disabled daughter needs access to emergency care at home and ambulance services. She also has a KCC school transport contract which cannot be fulfilled if the road is fully closed. Therefore this would actually cost KCC as school bus cannot get to us another way.
I've lost track of the number of closures over the last few years mainly due to excessively heavy vehicles breaking down this country road' s sub structure for which it was never designed. The combination of the Sub-station, the cabling for electricity supplies for building developments in Whitstable and the Solar Farm have brought absolute misery to Graveney residents providing no benefits but shouldering all the inconvenience. Poor planning and a total lack of considerations is the cause. So get your act together Planners and start earning your salary, or get out and let those can do the job take over, I've had enough
Please consider businesses, employees who need to get to work and parents who need to get children to school on time. Thank you.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
Stop the two-month closure of the main road (20 October – 23 December 2025)
We, the undersigned residents, businesses, and road users of Graveney and the surrounding area, strongly oppose the planned two-month closure of the main road for SGN gas works.
This closure is excessive, unsafe, and unnecessary. We know that:
• The impact will be disastrous. When the road has been closed before, Graveney has suffered total gridlock. Monkshill Road and Church Lane cannot cope with the diverted traffic. If the A299 has issues at the same time, drivers flood into Monkshill Road — a single-track lane — creating chaos, blockages, and dangerous conditions.
• Past closures have been mismanaged. Diversion signs have been wrong or left in place after works, leading drivers into dead ends and deterring business. Roads have been blocked even when no work was being carried out. Residents have been denied fair access while HGVs have been allowed through.
• Lives are put at risk. Ambulances, carers, and emergency services cannot reach people in time when the village is cut off. During winter, the diversion has no street lighting, increasing the risk of accidents
• The works could be done differently. We know that total closures are often chosen because they are cheaper and easier for contractors, not because they are unavoidable. This is a choice of cost-cutting over community safety and wellbeing.
Under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Kent County Council and SGN have a duty to coordinate works to minimise disruption (Sections 59–60) and must not cause unreasonable delay (Section 66). A two-month full closure of Graveney’s only through-route fails these legal duties.
We therefore demand that SGN and Kent County Council:
1. Scrap the full closure and instead carry out phased works with temporary traffic lights, keeping at least one lane open.
2. Provide accurate, timely, and consistent information to residents and businesses.
3. Guarantee emergency access and fair treatment of residents.
4. Coordinate with bus companies and local businesses to prevent unnecessary isolation and disruption.
5. Compensate those who lose time, money, and trade as a result of these works.
Graveney is not prepared to be cut off again. We call on SGN and Kent County Council to respect their legal obligations and our community by finding a fairer, safer alternative.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
September 17, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
September 13, 2025
148 Comments
Last time this road was closed it took me 2hrs to get to work (usually 20 mins) due to the increased traffic, im disabled and this will likely result in me missing days of work due to the impact the increased driving will have on my health
As a home to school transport provider we use this road daily, as we collect a child from Graveney. The children are already on the vehicle for the maximum time without lengthy diversions down narrow country roads in a mini bus. We need to be able to transport them to school safely.
affects two school runs into Faversham and canterbury. Wife runs business from home and will lose business as a result. Monks Hill diversion is unsuitable and unsafe due to the volume of traffic due to Graveney primary school. , local businesses and Farming heavy vehicles.
A total road block is totally unacceptable for residents that still need to go shopping and attend medical appointments. I am being treated for pancreatic cancer - how do I visit the hospital in Canterbury ?
I am a resident of Goodnestone and feel we are being unfairly treated and abandoned to “get on with it” by an enforced total road closure, when a partial road closure with access via the use of temporary traffic lights, would be a much more considerate and constructive option.
My severely disabled daughter needs access to emergency care at home and ambulance services. She also has a KCC school transport contract which cannot be fulfilled if the road is fully closed. Therefore this would actually cost KCC as school bus cannot get to us another way.
I've lost track of the number of closures over the last few years mainly due to excessively heavy vehicles breaking down this country road' s sub structure for which it was never designed. The combination of the Sub-station, the cabling for electricity supplies for building developments in Whitstable and the Solar Farm have brought absolute misery to Graveney residents providing no benefits but shouldering all the inconvenience. Poor planning and a total lack of considerations is the cause. So get your act together Planners and start earning your salary, or get out and let those can do the job take over, I've had enough
Please consider businesses, employees who need to get to work and parents who need to get children to school on time. Thank you.
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 500 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
Last time this road was closed it took me 2hrs to get to work (usually 20 mins) due to the increased traffic, im disabled and this will likely result in me missing days of work due to the impact the increased driving will have on my health