NO EGRESS IN SIGHT AT INGRESS PARK...

No light in sight at end of road-works tunnel in Ingress Park, Greenhithe

02 July 2014

by Alex Matthews almatthews@thekmgroup.co.uk

Roadworks in Greenhithe are taking so long that even vandals in the area are sick of the delay.

A well-used road that runs under The Avenue overpass near the Ingress Park estate in Greenhithe has been out of action since February.

It was closed after Kent County Council decided it was not safe due to “significant subsidence” caused by “extraordinary rainfall” in December of last year and February of this year.

Ingress Park, London Road, Greenhithe.

Ingress Park, London Road, Greenhithe

The unnamed road leads to Greenhithe station and it is solely for the use of pedestrians and a Fastrack bus service run by Arriva.

A cordoned-off area of the road has a sign that reads: “Apologies for any inconvenience caused by the works”, to which people have added “no hurry chaps” and “what works?”

Ellie Wakefield, 23, said: “Even the kids writing the graffiti are getting the hump with it.”

Miss Wakefield, of London Road, Greenhithe, said the road closure meant she had to take a longer journey just to pop out to get some shopping. She would usually take a quick walk down the road with her three-year-old son Joseph-Jones to get to the supermarket.

Ellie Wakefield with her son Joseph-James Robinson  by the underpass

She said: “It’s really frustrating. I don’t really mind walking places when it’s nice outside but that’s not always practical when I want to get to Asda in a rush.” She said a lot of people were getting annoyed, especially those who use the bus to get to work. Miss Wakefield said: “[KCC] could have done this work before. Our council tax has gone up and they’re supposed to be supporting our town.”

A spokesman for KCC said a temporary bus route was now running along London Road through Ingress Park to get to Greenhithe Station.

People could also access the station through a signed pedestrian route in The Dell nearby.

KCC has been discussing plans with Crest Nicholson, the developer of Ingress Park, and work on the road will begin in autumn.

He said: “Revised plans for a solution to the problems at Ingress Park have been submitted.

“They are now being reviewed by the authority’s structures team, who need to ensure that they are robust enough to provide a long-term solution.

“Once agreed, the project needs to be put out to tender, and we expect work to start in the early autumn.”