The Wingham housing development has stalled amid fears of a repeat of the tragedy that claimed the life of 8-year-old Jade Hobbs.

Plans for a new development are on hold amid fears of a road accident similar to the one that claimed the lives of a girl and her grandmother.

The bid for 17 homes in Wingham, near Canterbury, has sparked concerns about the safety of a nearby junction if more properties are built in the area.

Developers have proposed installing a pedestrian crossing and using double yellow lines to stop parked vehicles blocking the view of motorists entering and exiting Preston Hill where it meets the A257.

But councilors argue safety measures are inadequate, with one branding the junction an “accident waiting to happen” and fearing a repeat of a tragedy that happened on the A249 near Maidstone 24 years ago years

In October 2000, eight-year-old Jade Hobbs and her grandmother, Margaret Kuwertz, 79, were struck and killed by a car on a stretch of road where a right-of-way had long been required.

It was only years later and after much campaigning that Jade’s Crossing, a bridge over the motorway, was built.

Dover Borough Councilor Jeff Loffman raised concerns about Wingham’s plans as the authority’s planning committee met to decide whether to approve the application.

“People may know the A249 which links the M2 and the M20, and down the hill is a junction called Jade’s Crossing,” said the Labor member.

“Those of you will know that a girl died in a motor accident.

“Anyone who knows this road would recognize that it was an accident waiting to happen, but KCC Highways in their infinite wisdom refused the parish council (request) any form of crossing.

“I am convinced that the buildings in this development are good and I would love to support this developer to deliver good quality homes.

“But it would be singularly wrong of me to vote for an app where I can see an accident waiting.

“I go up and down this hill regularly, and the amount of parked vehicles and traffic is very significant.”

An earlier application by a different developer for 15 homes on the same site near Gobery Hill was rejected on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate due to concerns about the safety of the junction.

The new bid has been submitted by Esquire Developments, which says it has resolved the issues including a pedestrian crossing set back from the junction with 12 meters of double yellow lines, as well as a proposed overpass area for larger vehicles that join the A257.

However, councilors remain unconvinced by the renewed plans and the impact of the new traffic generated by the development.

Cllr David Cronk (Lab) told the meeting: “I drive an HGV lorry up and down this road and it’s absolutely ridiculous because it’s one-way traffic going up the hill because of all the parked cars, and it’s an absolute nightmare.going out with a 40 foot trailer.

“What they have planned for the junction is incredible because you can’t get clearance going down the hill, and if someone is standing in the way, they are in danger of being cut off by my wheels.

“Have you polled KCC to make sure it’s safe enough for a truck to use that intersection? Because it’s unsafe in my opinion as a truck driver.”

Andrew Wilford, head of land and planning at Esquire Developments, defended the scheme and the proposed road changes.

“Although we were not involved in the rejected application, we have worked accordingly to provide an appropriate junction arrangement and have worked closely with Kent County Council’s roads team to ensure that a proposed upgrade this junction is safe and suitable for current and future users.” he said

“The Road Safety Audit and Kent Highways are fully satisfied that the proposed upgrade is safe and acceptable and meets all industry standard guidelines.

“The local community has had a positive influence on the scheme; has no statutory objections and, combined with the high quality design approach, will provide local homes for local people.”

The development has already proved divisive, attracting 214 objections on Dover District Council’s (DDC) planning portal.

One resident, Dominic Dowell, described the plans as “totally ridiculous and unnecessary”, adding: “Traffic is going to get more and more stressful and our small roads cannot last much longer.

“Our little town will drown in nothing but cheap and tacky houses.

“This corner of the country will no longer be called the Garden of England, more like the dumping ground of the United Kingdom.”

Councilors were initially prepared to reject the plan on safety grounds, but as Kent County Council, as the local roads authority, had not raised any objections to the merger proposals, they were told that this reason for refusal could not be defended on appeal.

Instead they voted to defer the decision so the DDC could seek its own independent traffic survey to allow any concerns about the roads to be raised.

However, the delay has left open the risk that the promoters will present an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate for the non-determination of the request.

Esquire Developments has been contacted for comment.