Warnings have been given about a closure of the busy A28 through Tenterden.

The main road in and out of the town will be shut to traffic between Turners Avenue and Ingleden Park Road.

The closure is from 7pm to 6am from Monday, May 19, for five nights. Pavements will remain open and a diversion will be signposted.

Kent Highway Services says it has to shut the road to traffic completely for resurfacing, but concern has been expressed about access.

Pastor Peter Mawson, correct from the Trinity Baptist Church, which is in the closure zone, said: “We have not been consulted about this. I saw the warning signs go up but did not realise what they meant.

“It will be difficult for us as we have children’s activities on a Monday evening with a lot of parents coming from St Michael’s, so they won’t be able to get to us.

“Our hall is also a polling station for the European elections on Thursday, May 22, so I don’t know how evening voters will get here.

“This will affect us as getting to us will be quite complicated. We will be contacting people who want to use the church to make them aware.”

Highlands Veterinary Surgery is also in the closed stretch.

A spokesman said: “We are looking into how this will affect us.”

The practice has one late surgery a week with consultations up until 7pm but is not a 24-hour operation.

Homewood School principal Sally Lees said: “We are aware of the planned closures of the A28. We understand there will still be access to the school entrance, so we do not envisage any problem for people accessing our evening activities during this period.”

There are no evening events listed at the Sinden Theatre that week.

Residents along the A28 are likely to be affected by noise from the roadworks.

A spokesman for Kent Highway Services (KHS) said: “Please note that this operation is noisy and can be prolonged as it is carried out using pneumatic hand tools.

“During the process, audible warning reversing sirens will be heard. This is a health and safety requirement and cannot be turned off.”

KHS says the road will be closed completely. A diversion will be via High Street, Cranbrook Road, Tenterden Road, Benenden Road, A262 Tenterden Road/Biddenden Road and the A28 Ashford Road/Silver Hill.

The spokesman said: “It is inevitable that residents and businesses near the works will experience some disruption and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience, but we will try to keep this to a minimum.

“Access to properties will need to be restricted for a short period while work is carried out in front of each property.”

He added that no vehicles should be parked along the road overnight. For more information, call 03000 418181.