The road works, which is part of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s [TWBC] public realm improvement works, has seen Monson Road closed between the junctions of Mount Pleasant Road and Monson Way.
The road works are part of a 34 week project to make the area around the library and town hall safer and more accessible for pedestrians.
Last week, after several complaints to the borough council, officials from Kent County Council were called out to erect new signs.
Several buses, including those taking children to school, had taken a wrong turn, leading to drivers having to make a U-Turn in the tight space before the road works on Monson Road.
A spokesperson for TWBC confirmed the signage has now been changed: “The contractor has placed additional signage at the junctions in the vicinity of the works to avoid confusion and ensure the Monson Road road closure and diversion are clear to drivers,” she said.
However, Liberal Democrat councillor for St John’s ward, Peter Lidstone, says he warned about the issues before the works outside the town hall and library got underway.
“Kent County Council held a consultation that was more of a notification than a consultation. They did want to discuss the problems raised by residents and local businesses.
“All of this could have been avoided. The fact that buses ended up going down the road is a clear indication the signage was poor.”
He added that they had similar issues with Kent County Council during the Public Realm Phase One, with contractors having to return to fix pavements.
“For the Borough Council doing projects like this, there has to be a certain level of trust in the county council but there does not seem to be a lot of it around.”
KCC were asked for comment last week but have so far declined to speak.
