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Storm Katie: West Kent travel guide

As the clean-up from Storm Katie enters a second day, some roads are still blocked.

This morning, a dog-walker in Snodland reported a telegraph pole strewn across a country road.

Police attended and made the scene safe. Paddlesworth Road remains closed.

A telegraph pole is blocking the road. Picture: Neil Vinall
A telegraph pole is blocking the road. Picture: Neil Vinall

Yesterday, crews were called out to remove a tree from Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells.

Meanwhile three trees blocked parts of Three Elm Lane off Hadlow Road, while a large trunk fell close to the junction of A26 and Seven Mile Lane, near Mereworth.

An optimist commuter waits for a bus on Pembury Road. Picture: @GrittingKent
An optimist commuter waits for a bus on Pembury Road. Picture: @GrittingKent

Vicky Hatcher took the below pictures of Tonbridge High Street, which was lashed by gales causing motorists a number of issues, somewhat ranging in severity.

Some of the destruction in Tonbridge. Picture: Vicky Hatcher
Some of the destruction in Tonbridge. Picture: Vicky Hatcher
Tonbridge High Street is strewn with road furniture. Picture: Vicky Hatcher
Tonbridge High Street is strewn with road furniture. Picture: Vicky Hatcher
A tree narrowly avoided hitting this vehicle. Picture: Vicky Hatcher
A tree narrowly avoided hitting this vehicle. Picture: Vicky Hatcher

Firefighters had to rescue two men and a woman from a boat which had come loose from its mooring on the River Medway at Tonbridge.

Crews had a very busy morning and also attended the following incidents —

  • Metal roof sheeting that had blown loose on a service station in Hawkhurst.
  • Roof tiles falling on to a public foot path from a house in Gallants Lane, Est Farleigh.
  • Ridge tiles that were falling on to a footpath from a house in Bambridge Court, Maidstone.
  • A wooden stable block that had blown over onto an embankment of the A228, which was dismantled by crews.

Leanne Hall, from Tonbridge, was in for a shock when a trampoline from a house in a completely different street ended up in her garden, leaving a hole in her roof.

This trampoline had flown into Leanne Hall's garden from a completely different road. Picture: Leanne Hall
This trampoline had flown into Leanne Hall's garden from a completely different road. Picture: Leanne Hall

Her pet rabbits were also left shell-shocked after a tree from a neighbouring property knocked their hutch over.

Elsewhere in Leanne's garden her rabbit cage was knocked over by a fallen tree. Picture: Leanne Hall
Elsewhere in Leanne's garden her rabbit cage was knocked over by a fallen tree. Picture: Leanne Hall

Several Kent tourist destinations were also hit hard by Katie's wrath, with Leeds Castle announcing some of its attractions, including its Easter Quest, and grounds are closed today while Ightham Mote has roped off its adventure area as a precaution but hopes to open later.

Dog walkers in Brenchley Gardens found their route blocked by a huge trunk which came crashing down overnight.

This was the scene in Brenchley Gardens, Maidstone. Picture: @FortifyCafe
This was the scene in Brenchley Gardens, Maidstone. Picture: @FortifyCafe

Gusts of 70mph were enough to do serious damage to buildings, with Tesco Express on Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, badly damaged in the storm.

Tesco Express on Tonbridge Road. Picture: James Marshall
Tesco Express on Tonbridge Road. Picture: James Marshall

A fallen tree is also causing disruption on Dunn Street Road near Boxley, with motorists reportedly having to cut through a field to continue on their journeys.

Kent County Council Highways have urged motorists to be patient as its call centre is extremely busy.

Southeastern are also warning of major disruption to a number of routes, with the 10.52am service from London Victoria to Ashford, 11.03am from London Cannon Street to Tunbridge Wells and the 12.22pm service in the opposite direction all cancelled.

Know a route that's blocked? Email messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk

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