The landlord of a popular village pub says he has lost 50% of his takings as passing trade plummeted during a road closure for gas works.

Jason Tharp, who runs the George Inn, in Leeds, near Maidstone, says custom has dropped in the month since the B2163 shut for repairs by gas suppliers.

Mr Tharp, 56, experienced a massive blow last year when the back road, which connects the A274 and the A20, was shut for more than two months while South East Water laid new pipes.

The current work, being carried out by a contractor on behalf of gas business SGN, is due to finish today (February 6).

Sitting in his half-empty pub during a normally busy lunchtime period, Mr Tharp said: “The place should be packed. Lunchtimes are a massive part of the business.

“Just when we thought we’d got everything back on track, the road was shut again in early January and the trade just died. Our takings are about 50% down on what they should be.

“Unlike a lot of pubs, we’re lucky to have a steady trade in January but this has happened.

“We rely on passing trade and Leeds Castle has always been brilliant at sending their visitors our way but when the road is shut, it’s a real turn-off for people.”

Because gas firm SGN closed the road initially as an emergency, Mr Tharp, who runs the business with his wife Debbie, says he will not be allowed to claim compensation.

He is also bracing himself for the closure of the A274 at Langley between the Plough pub and the Potting Shed restaurant.

The B2163 carries thousands of vehicles every day.

Kent County Council is to carry out repair and maintenance on its drains, from February 6 until March 17.

While it will have a major impact on roads in south east Maidstone, there will also be a massive impact on Loose where locals fear traffic will double.

Mr Tharp said: “Although the traffic is meant to be diverted to the Linton crossroads, the chances are it will pour a load of traffic through Leeds. It will probably end up jamming the village up.

“This is such a busy road at the best of times. We need a by-pass but they’ve been talking about this since I was a child growing up in Langley and it never happens and it probably never will.”

Local county councillor Gary Cooke has spent years campaigning for a relief road around the village, setting out the benefits to the whole of south east Maidstone to relieve pressure on affected communities.

Mr Tharp expects HGVs, which routinely flout the ban through Leeds, will use the road in greater numbers.

He added: “I don’t expect the police will do much about it because they never have.”

Cllr Sean Holden, chairman of the Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee at Kent County Council, has been spearheading a campaign to force contractors to finish work on time and find ways of opening routes up during weekends and bank holidays.

He said: "The whole issue of companies calling for emergency closures needs to be looked at. I heard of one instance in Kent where an emergency was called and the work didn't start for a month.

"This has an appalling effect on people lives and people's businesses. And we need to fine over-running works much more heavily."