A village which is being used as a “rat run” due to constant roadworks is “falling apart”, according to fed-up residents.

People living in Teynham say they want to move from the once-quiet area because of a major increase in traffic and disruption.

A recent survey showed 17,339 vehicles a day using the A2 through the village - up 24% since 2019.

Honeyball Walk resident Natalie Taylor moved from Adisham, near Canterbury, almost three years ago.

The 54-year-old painter and decorator had hopes of living there forever, but now says she’d rather move 135 miles to Norfolk than continue to put up with congestion.

She said: “It seemed quite quiet here when I first moved and then all of a sudden it just seemed that we were going to be having all these thousands of houses being built, and with the roadworks in the area as well, it meant that we’ve had an increased volume of traffic through on London Road and it’s had an impact on this little village.

“I want to move to Norfolk because I have family there and it is like going to another world with better roads, less traffic and it is a slower, quieter pace of life.”

From Monday, July 22, roadworks are expected along Cellar Hill and Nouds Lane. Starting on the same day temporary traffic lights will also be installed along the A2 London Road between Lower Norton Road to Lynsted Lane for highway improvement works by Kent County Council (KCC).

There are numerous other works planned towards the neighbouring towns of Faversham and Sittingbourne which Natalie says makes the village the brunt of delays from both sides.

The mum-of-one explained: “Because Teynham is always used in diversions, London Road’s condition had become so poor and there were sunken drain covers.

“KCC resurfaced it after we campaigned but there are always roadworks happening in the area so it didn’t make much of a difference.

“There is still a hell of a lot that needs repairing and due to the amount of traffic, KCC can’t keep up with repairs.

“The lanes are also crumbling due to them being used as rat runs, they’re falling apart.

“As we gradually get over one set of roadworks more appear. It is like it is never going to end.”

When asked about the council’s ability to keep on top of the road maintenance in the village, a KCC spokeswoman explained the authority recognises there has been an increase in the number of roadworks being carried out in area.

She said: “These are essential works to upgrade and maintain the highway or the utility services that everyone relies on.

“KCC is coordinating these works to minimise the disruption caused as much as possible.”

Natalie, who has a tear in the wall of her heart and psoriatic arthritis, has missed medical appointments due to delays the roadworks have caused.

She added: “It’s had a detrimental effect on people’s medical appointments, getting to school, getting to work and because of that we obviously try and utilise the network of lanes around us.

“Some people are unable to leave an hour in advance for an appointment that is just 15 minutes up the road.

“People try to skip the queues by going down the country lanes but it isn’t just local people using these shortcuts.

“It always feels like accidents are waiting to happen everywhere, especially with the number of people who aren’t familiar with the area cutting through.

“I think it’ll only be a matter of time before we get some massive sinkholes, which again is just going to cause complete chaos - even the paths are broken and cracked.”

Natalie calls KCC daily to report damage and potholes.

Teynham and Lynsted councillor, Julien Speed, shares her concerns.

He said: “Residents are fed up with endless road closures and temporary traffic lights causing major tailbacks.

“Diversions are often down country lanes not designed for that level of traffic, exacerbating potholes and ripping up road verges.

“Roads are being dug up to lay cables and pipework for new houses that local people don’t want, and then they’re not reinstated properly.

“Traffic restrictions are sometimes imposed in several nearby places at the same time, meaning the logical diversion route is also blocked. I’m forever having to contact KCC to ask them to re-schedule closures.

“Particularly frustrating is when you’re held up at temporary lights, but no workmen are on site - as happens frequently along the A2.

“The main problem is increased traffic volumes. A traffic count in 2019 showed 14,001 vehicle movements a day along London Road in Teynham and Lynsted.

“A repeat exercise carried out last month recorded 17,339 vehicles - that’s a staggering 24% increase in just five years.

“And it’s only going to get worse with all the housing development - 100 new houses adds an extra 180 cars onto our local roads.”