New homes have been approved in a village where almost 200 more are planned despite fears of traffic dangers.

The scheme for five homes on a former grazing paddock off Meadow Lane in Eastry has triggered concern among residents.

Ahead of councillors discussing the application at Dover District Council’s planning committee last week, a photograph of a crash highlighting residents’ concerns was submitted as part of the public consultation into the proposals.

But speaking at the meeting on Thursday, October 30, Penny Wilson, of the pressure group Eastry Says No, raised the matter with councillors, saying: “Previous accidents have occurred at that very spot.

“Lower Street is a very narrow Roman road and it will also have to take traffic from 100 houses planned on the other side of the road a few metres away, as well as those from 94 houses planned for the old hospital site.

“All of this is going to lead to an accident waiting to happen on Lower Street.”

The site is located west of Meadow Lane and off Lower Street, where on the opposite side of the road, plans are in for another 100 homes.

In a letter to the planning portal commenting on the application, neighbour Tanya Jaynes, who also sent in the picture of the crash, wrote: “The traffic generated from the proposed entrance poses grave danger to the residents of neighbouring properties.

“It puts all pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles passing this point in danger of collision, as the entrance is too near a blind bend on a narrowing piece of road.

“Parked cars force traffic at the site’s entrance onto the wrong side of the road.”

She also said that her own property had been frequently damaged by large vehicles crashing into it, and that there were ongoing problems with speeding in the area.

She added: “We have had a car written off while parked to the north of the proposed entrance by a speeding car.

“Two of our neighbours’ cars were also involved in the incident. There is no footpath to the south of the entrance towards the pond; pedestrians have to walk in the road.”

Ms Jaynes had sent the photograph and letter in February when nine houses were planned, but fears over traffic dangers continued to be voiced, even with the application now being for five homes.

The application for 100 homeson the other side of Lower Street is still under council consideration.

Work on the hospital land, which has 94 homes approved, has stopped while the site owner awaits approval from DDC to reduce the amount of affordable housing.

Eastry Says No is opposed to all overdevelopment in the village.

A total of 29 letters of objection were sent to DDC for the Meadow Lane paddock site, with some saying the site was on the edge of a Saxon burial ground and that remains might still be there.

Others said the extra traffic would add to noise and pollution.

But there were 11 letters in support of the scheme, with supporters saying it was a quality development, had a good design and sat comfortably within the environment.

Kent County Council’s (KCC’s) highways department said the proposal would generate a low number of vehicle movements and that the impact on the wider highway network would be negligible.

It said there would be sufficient visibility splays to allow for safe access and exit.

KCC’s archaeology department said it was checking to see if there were Saxon burials on the site. It otherwise had no objections to the application.

DDC planning officers recommended approval of the scheme, saying the land was earmarked for development in the Dover District Local Plan.

The planning committee voted unanimously to approve the scheme.

Cllr Roger Knight (Con) said: “I feel careful planning has been considered in this case.”

Residents are continuing with their campaign against proposed developments around Eastry, including a campaign to block the 100-home scheme opposite the now-approved Meadow Lane site.