Residents waved placards and tooted horns in a protest marking one year since a major road collapsed.

Dubbed an “unhappy birthday” more than 50 residents turned up to the event at the junction of Galley Hill Road and High Street, Swanscombe to highlight the lack of action in the 12 months since the road collapsed on April 10.

The Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association (SGRA) invited those affected by the closure of the road which connects Swanscombe and Northfleet, to come together to get their voices heard today (April 6).

Members of the community united to raise ongoing concerns, wave signs demanding action and eat cake as part of a continued attempts by residents and councillors to have their voices heard following the landslide which destroyed part of the A226.

Involving ongoing battles between KCC, Thames Water and land owners the net result has seen no obvious progress made during the 12 months.

Councillor Ann Duke, from SGRA, said:” The vital link road between Dartford and Gravesham has been severed with no solution in sight and the dangerous situations that residents are facing still remain.”

She added: “We are gathering en masse to spotlight the current serious situation that the town continues to face because it could be a ticking time-bomb.

“Articulated lorries continue to find their way to very narrow streets, mounting pavements in order get through, causing danger to pedestrians - including school children and elderly residents on motor-scooters.

“This is not withstanding the traffic chaos when accidents occur on the A2.

“Recently the town of Swanscombe was effectively cut off for 18 hours due to a severe accident.

“There are two major access roads - the A2 and the A226. When the A2 is closed because of accidents, what is left of the A226 becomes grid-locked causing Swanscombe to be completely isolated.

“This is a grave concern in the event of medical emergencies or should there be serious incident in the town where the only access could be by air.”

Swanscombe councillor (Lab) Claire Pearce was not in favour of the party.

She said: “I need to be very clear, for SGRA to even think of holding an event like this could almost be seen as a late April Fool - but it’s just not at all funny.

“It’s not funny for local businesses who are trying to to survive; It’s not funny for anyone trying to get a local bus; and it’s not funny that so much traffic is being diverted through Swanscombe and damaging local roads.

“Cake and placards will not sort out the fact that since the Galley Hill collapse the Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association and their KCC Councillor have failed to put pressure on KCC and the government to deliver a solution.

“Swanscombe doesn’t need cheap publicity stunts - one year on we need progress not parties.”

But Peter Harman, the SGRA Kent County Councillor for Swanscombe and Greenhithe, said the action was not meant as a joke.

“Ever since the road collapsed we have been trying to raise the profile of the issue. Our aim has always been to get the road fixed as soon as possible. We want to raise the profile so it gets fixed and so it is not swept under the carpet.

“Anything we do that keeps it in people’s minds can only be a good thing.

“This event also gives residents the chance to voice their concerns because they are not being heard.”

He added: The SGRA have been fighting since last Easter Monday to get Galley Hill Road repaired. We all know how important this is to us all.

“We have been particularly keen to ensure that this isn’t conveniently “forgotten about” by those able to get it repaired at KCC and Central Government.”

SGRA Cllr Ann Duke agreed with the importance of keeping it in the public eye.

“When I became a town councillor I thought I would be able to make a lot of change but we don’t have that power.

“But we do have the power to protest and keep it in the consciousness of the people who can. We need to keep putting the pressure on.”