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Couple sent on 30-minute detour to find Covid-19 testing site in Otford Road, Sevenoaks warn others of struggles to find 'hidden' centre

A couple who tested positive for Covid-19 say a drive-through testing site in Sevenoaks was so difficult to find, they almost gave up trying.

Susan and Graham Balsdon from Wilmington booked the PCR test at the centre in Otford Road on Sunday, June 6 after experiencing symptoms of the virus.

Susan and Graham Balsdon from Wilmington
Susan and Graham Balsdon from Wilmington

The site in Sevenoaks was the closest available with appointments so they took a drive down there but the seemingly straightforward journey turned out to be anything but.

They say it took 30 minutes to find the centre having been taken on a detour by misplaced signs and a confused satnav.

They are now sharing their experience to highlight the difficulties they faced as they fear others who may be unknowingly carrying the virus may give up and turn back home.

Mrs Balsdon, 54, said: "When we put the postcode into the satnav it took us to a McDonald's up the road.

"Then we followed signs for a testing centre which we thought was the one we needed but it ended up being a completely different walk-through site which was actually closed that day.

They were sent to McDonald's and the Bat and Ball centre before finding the testing site
They were sent to McDonald's and the Bat and Ball centre before finding the testing site

"We left with plenty of time but it must have taken us 30mins to find it and I think we drove past it about 10 times without realising."

The site the road signs directed them to was at the Bat and Ball Centre in Cramptons Road.

She added: "We nearly gave up and the only reason we found it was because we rang a friend who went there a few days before us and told us to look out for wheelie bins.

"Once you get inside there is a big yellow sign that you cannot see from the road.

"When we spoke about the difficulty in finding the site to staff, they said 'a lot of people say that but what can we do?'"

The sign at the entrance of the site was hard to spot from the road. Picture: Susan Balsdon
The sign at the entrance of the site was hard to spot from the road. Picture: Susan Balsdon

This is not the first time people have noted troubles with the testing site in Otford Road.

In October, worried members of the public who booked a Covid-19 test at the centre arrived to find it didn't exist.

A succession of people who booked a slot using the government's national portal turned up to find the testing station had not yet been deployed.

Kent County Council, which runs the site, has been approached for comment.

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford

Read more: All the latest news from Sevenoaks

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