‘I’ve had to barricade myself in to stay safe’

A woman has barricaded her home amid fears her health could be put at risk by people ignoring social distancing rules.

Julie-Ellen Barrett, of Friars View, Aylesford, says members of the public have been cutting across the area outside her house and brushing past her since the lockdown came into action.

The 48-year-old claims people have always done this due to the property being at the end of a cul de sac with access to the River Medway. However, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Ms Barrett has become increasingly concerned about the danger of constant close contact with people.

Having been let go from her job as an architect, she is now often outside gardening or doing odd jobs.

Ms Barrett, who lives with her two lodgers, said: “There are hundreds of people passing my front door every day and when I come out there is always someone right there. “A few days ago a kid ran right up to me when I was working on some shrubs and later I was washing my car and a guy brushed right past me.

“People have been cutting over my front steps and I have to run to the other side of the road to let them pass.” Ms Barrett decided enough was enough and borrowed plastic barriers from a friend who works on the motorways and positioned them around her house, joined with rope, earlier this week.

There are three signs explaining her reasoning to members of the public.

She said: “It’s been extremely difficult here, I’m scared - I don’t want to catch that virus. I go all prickly thinking about it.”

While one neighbour has raised concerns about the footpath being obstructed and passers by have called her names, Ms Barrett says most of neighbours have been supportive of her decision.

She says she has also been forced to put up signs warning people not to climb her rear wall.

She said: “I’ve never noticed anyone climbing it since I’ve lived here, but now they’ve all started doing it all of a sudden. “Now people are coming with proper kit.”