SOE17321- Head Hill Road, Graveney (Head Hill Road)

Update: 02.12.2025

Last week, our team successfully completed the connection into Goodnestone. This week, the team will be carrying out trial holes, service relay works, and progressing with the top cutter down to the Removal Company from Goodnestone Lane.
Reinstatement works will follow during the week commencing 8 December, with further completion works planned for week commencing 15 December. During this period, the team aims to complete the final section up to just past Poplar Hall.

Site Safety & Behaviour Towards Staff

Our spotters remain on site from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, to ensure safe movement through the works area.
Unfortunately, last week we experienced several incidents where our spotter was subjected to racial abuse. This behaviour is completely unacceptable. If further incidents occur, spotters will be removed from site for their safety, and number plates of those responsible will be provided to the police.
Our staff are carrying out essential duties, and no one should face abuse for ensuring the safety of the public and the workforce.

Thank You

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we progress through the final stages of this complex project. The team is working hard to bring these works to a safe and timely conclusion.  

Update: 19.11.2025

We successfully completed and reinstated 350 metres of gas main between The Four Horseshoes and Clock House Farm.

This Week’s Works

Our road closure has now been moved to the opposite side of Clock House Farm, continuing south toward Whitstable Road.
This week will involve preparatory works and confirming the final route for our open-cut trench.
On Friday, an additional top-cutter will be arriving on site. This will significantly speed up the process of removing the top layer of tarmac ahead of excavation.
We aim to work from Clock House Farm to the junction of Goodnestone Lane over the next two weeks.
Once this section is completed, the closure will be moved again to the other side of the junction, allowing us to continue progressing south.
Our target remains an average of 100 metres per week, subject to ground conditions and engineering requirements.
Our spotters will remain on site 7am–7pm, Monday to Saturday, to manage large vehicle movements and keep the route safe.
We continue to strongly advise using the official diversion route through Seasalter Village to avoid delays.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation while we carry out these essential works.

Update: 31.10.2025

As of last week, our team successfully top-cut approximately 300 metres of road surface, from Four Horseshoes Park to Clock House Farm. This method significantly accelerates our work by removing the top surface layer over a long section, allowing our team to follow behind and remove the remaining ground more efficiently.
During this period, additional camera surveys were also carried out. These surveys identified a remaining section of metallic gas main from Four Horseshoes Park to the junction of Goosefields. Residents in this area will have received a visit from our Customer Liaison Officer, along with a letter explaining the need for a temporary interruption to their gas supply.
This discovery has added approximately 100 metres of main to be open-cut and replaced. However, we remain on schedule to complete the project by Christmas.

Progress Update

As of last week, our team successfully top-cut approximately 300 metres of road surface, from Four Horseshoes Park to Clock House Farm. This method significantly accelerates our work by removing the top surface layer over a long section, allowing our team to follow behind and remove the remaining ground more efficiently.
During this period, additional camera surveys were also carried out. These surveys identified a remaining section of metallic gas main from Four Horseshoes Park to the junction of Goosefields. Residents in this area will have received a visit from our Customer Liaison Officer, along with a letter explaining the need for a temporary interruption to their gas supply.
This discovery has added approximately 100 metres of main to be open-cut and replaced. However, we remain on schedule to complete the project by Christmas.

Plans for This Week

An additional digger driver has joined the team to support continuous trench excavation.
Our specialist operators will prepare customer services for connection to the new main.
Trial holes will be completed on the additional section identified last week.
We expect this section to take around two weeks to complete.
Road closure will remain in place as reinstatement continues and the works progress toward Whitstable Road.

Traffic Management & Spotters

To support safe vehicle movement in the area, the following spotters are currently in place:
4 spotters on Monks Hill
2 on SeaSalter at the junction with Head Hill Road
1 on Waterham
1 near the Thanet Way end of Monks Hill
Spotters are responsible for managing the movement of large vehicles such as lorries and tractors, preventing head-on encounters in narrow sections. Please be aware that choosing this route instead of the Seasalter diversion may result in delays, as priority is given to safely passing large vehicles.
Spotter hours are currently 7:00am – 7:00pm, but from next week these will adjust to 6:00am – 6:00pm to better accommodate early agricultural traffic.
Future Updates
This page will be updated every three days with progress reports as the works continue.
We thank residents and road users for their patience and cooperation as we carry out these essential upgrades to the gas network.

Update: 21.10.2025

This week, our team has begun work on Head Hill Road as part of our ongoing gas main replacement project.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be replacing more than 1,000 metres of old, deteriorating gas main with a new, upsized plastic main designed to last over 80 years.
To help complete the work as efficiently as possible, the team is working extended hours, Monday to Friday (7am–7pm), and on Saturdays for reinstatement where needed.
We also have three traffic spotters on site managing the flow of vehicles along Monks Hill, temporarily stopping larger vehicles when necessary to prevent head-on situations through the narrow section.
For safety and smoother travel, we strongly advise drivers to use the official diversion route via Seasalter, as this will help avoid delays or congestion.
Our rolling closure will move progressively along Head Hill Road towards Whitstable Road over the next eight weeks.
We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding while we carry out these essential works to improve the local gas network.