Controversial plans for 56 homes have been passed despite road safety fears.

The development at the former Kumor Nursery is close to Sandwich Technology College, which has more than 1,400 pupils,

One councillor's call for site meeting was rejected and he application was narrowly voted through.

The vote took place at the Dover District Council planning committee meeting last night (Thursday).

David Bedford, speaking for the developers Westerhill Homes, told the meeting: "This would make use of a derelict nursery site.

"There wold be 56 family homes, 17 affordable.

"There are no objections from the local highway authority."

But Paul Carter, a Sandwich town councillor, said: "Sandwich currently has 595 homes will planning permission.

"This development would be build near a 1,400-pupil school (Sandwich Tech).

"This is green land, which has never been developed and this would be building on a rural area of natural beauty."

The site, at Dover Road, is opposite the entrance to Sandwich Tech.

Cllr Helen Williams told the meeting: "I am not happy about the safety of the road, Kids will dash a cross is because that is what kids will do."

Cllr Edward Biggs shared that concern and put forward a motion for a site meeting, which was voted down.

He had argued: "It looks like this development is going to be a big impact on the road."

Planning officers had told that meeting that there had been no crashes in that road over the last five years.

Westerhill's previous application, for 67 homes, had been rejected by the district council in November 2017 and then on appeal.

Officers said this revised scheme put forward now ovecame previous concerns and recommended its approval.

They accepted that parts of Dover Road are narrow and busy, particularly during school peak times.

But they argued that the additional vehicle movements would not justify refusal.

Westerhill Homes mainly wants two storey properties along with three pairs of bungalows.

The application had led to 91 letters of objection from neighbours and Sandwich Town Council was also against it.

Neighbours say that the area's pavements are already too narrow for pedestrian safety and schoolchildren walk, cycle and scoot in the road.

They argue that there is poor visibility at junctions and there are frequent near misses in the road.

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