A dozen residents walked out of a planning meeting in disgust when councillors narrowly voted in favour of a housing proposal.

People living in Chapman Avenue, Maidstone, believe the plan by Mulbury Developments to create a new cul-de-sac off the already busy street will make the area dangerous.

The extra homes would mean creating a new access route opposite Ufton Close - something campaigners claim will make life difficult for traffic and pedestrians.

At the meeting several spoke against the application, including one who said: “This street has already been the site of accidents and near misses and a crossroads will make it a blackspot.”

But a spokesman for the developers said they were “committed to a high quality development” adding: “Our engineers have looked at people’s comments and they do not believe there is a problem.”

Councillors were still divided on the matter.

Cllr Rod Nelson-Gracie (Con) who said that although there was a huge amount of concern over the proposed development it would do the council no good to refuse it.

He said that although councillors may feel minded to dismiss the application, fear of losing at appeal meant it was safer to agree the application with a list of conditions attached.

“Clearly there is a great deal of concern being expressed and I can understand it, but if we refuse this on a highways matter we will not succeed and we will have costs awarded against us,” he said.

As residents left they shouted things including “it’s a disgrace!” and “what a travesty!”

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