The fate of highly controversial plans for a housing estate on "unspoilt countryside" is to be decided by the government's planning inspectorate.

More than 400 residents are against the 44-home development in Sandwich, with many raising fears over increased traffic problems near a secondary school.

The application was rejected by Dover District Council last year but an appeal by the applicants against this will be heard next week.

Apart from the feared effects near Sir Roger Manwood's School, protesters are also concerned about the visual impact on a "sensitive landscape", parking, pressure on drainage and the destruction of trees.

Ward district councillor Dan Friend (Con) called the proposal an "unwarranted intrusion".

"This parcel of land is integral to the unspoilt countryside that wraps around this part of Sandwich," he added.

"Any development would be to the detriment of the sensitive landscape setting of Sandwich."

Fernham Homes had applied to Dover District Council (DDC) to build the homes on land at Archers Low Farm at Sandown Road in February 2021.

The original application was for 56 homes. Following local uproar, by last January, the number was reduced to 44.

The plans have attracted 450 comments opposing it and only seven in favour.

A small demonstration against the scheme was held in Sandwich on Saturday.

Resident Michael Turnbull wrote on the DDC planning portal: "Traffic in Sandwich, with its narrow streets and confusing one-way systems, is already at crisis point.

"At times when visitors to the town are high in number it is the local residents in these areas who suffer from lack of parking on dangerous narrow roads."

Angela Hammond wrote: "Getting to and from Sandwich along Sandown Road is always tricky and in many places one needs to allow oncoming traffic to pass.

"The addition of 44 new houses will significantly increase the number of cars in this congested area and will reduce amenity in an unspoilt piece of countryside.

"The choice of this site does not seem natural and will place considerable pressure on Sandwich's ability to accommodate the extra traffic on its crowded streets."

Martin Ayling commented: "The site is a haven for many many wildlife species, some of which are protected and rare.

"This development would be a disaster for the resident, and visiting, wildlife."

Jeremy Salt said that Sandown Road was effectively reduced to a single lane due to car parking and when parents dropped off their children for Manwood's that made traffic especially heavy and dangerous.

Sandwich Town Council is also against the scheme on the grounds of traffic generation, vehicular access problems and highways safety.

Fernham Homes, of Maidstone, is applying to build 44 houses, mostly three- or four-bedroomed, with some affordable homes. There would be 134 new car parking spaces and 52 bicycle ones.

Last March, Dover District Council refused the application, saying the scheme would lead to the loss of too many trees and would overall severely harm the landscape and beauty of the countryside.

"The choice of this site does not seem natural..."

Planning committee members had voted to refuse despite an officers' recommendation to approve.

Fernham had argued that the site was identified in DDC's Local Plan as a place suitable for residential development.

It said that only a small amount of trees would go and these would be replaced by 0.89 acres of woodland, four times the area lost.

The woodland would also be managed and create a public walking route, and there would be contributions towards the cost of local schooling schools and doctor's surgeries.

Highways England raised no objection, saying the development would not affect the safety and operation of the area's road network.

The appeal will be heard by the National Planning Inspector from 10am from Tuesday (January 17) and next day.

This will be at the Dover District Council offices at the White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield.

Members of the public can speak but have to apply first to planningappeals@dover.gov.uk