An "entirely inappropriate" footbridge connecting a huge new housing estate with a country park will block views and cause major disruption to wildlife, critics fear.

The proposed structure is set to replace a current level crossing over the Ashford to Canterbury line between the Conningbrook Park 'Large Burton' scheme and Conningbrook Lakes Country Park in Kennington.

Plans submitted to Ashford Borough Council on behalf of developers Quinn Estates and Redrow Homes say it has been designed to improve walking and cycling routes in the area.

With more residents set to move in over the coming years, Network Rail says the current Cradle Bridge level crossing, which is a gate over the rail line, is not fit for purpose and could pose serious safety concerns if left as it is.

But residents fear the structure is "far too big" and have raised concerns over construction traffic using Conningbrook Avenue on the nearby Conningbrook Lakes housing estate to get to the site.

"This needs to be made smaller in terms of appearance and construction," Gareth McBain said.

"The view of the lake from the houses will be interrupted by the large construction.

"I fully reject this application for a multitude of reasons."

Sally Hopkins has also objected to the plans, saying: "This is entirely inappropriate as well as dangerous, as it is a residential estate, with significant traffic calming, which is not suitable for heavy traffic."

If approved, the bridge will be 5.1m above the tracks and will have sloped walkways either side as well as steps and a zig-zag ramp onto the east of the tracks leading to Conningbrook Park.

It will be made from a brown weathered steel which will darken over time and has been designed to blend into the landscape, bosses say.

There will also be low-level lighting all the way across to ensure it can be safely used throughout the year and the bridge will be placed 300 metres south of another gated level crossing nearby.

But others living nearby say while the bridge is needed, they hope an alternative route away from Conningbrook Avenue can be used for construction access.

Steph Sainsbury said: "While I am not objecting to a footbridge here, I am objecting to Conningbrook Avenue being used as the access road for these works to be carried out.

"We have to pay maintenance charges for this road. Will a contribution be made to cover this and also any damage caused?"

Jennifer Morrow has raised concerns over what she believes will be a large environmental impact.

"This is going to cause major disruption to the wildlife which has been an important part of the land where the large zig-zag ramp is proposed to be placed," she said.

"This will interrupt land that has been being used for farm animals and animals to settle."

In a statement written on behalf of Quinn Estates and Redrow Homes, bosses say the bridge, which will also link 'Large Burton' to Conningbrook Lakes Country Park, has been designed "in accordance with local, regional, and national guidance in terms of determining its size and design".

"The planned layout of this proposal has been designed to respond to the unique landscape and users," they said.

"On the west side, contrary to a standard design, which is often straight and parallel to the rail, the route for this footbridge allows for some meandering through the landscape albeit recognising that residents will also be using this as a direct connecting route.

"At each kink in the route alignment an opportunity for views has been created.

"A portion of the walkways will be built over a vegetated earth embankment.

"These embankments offer a fantastic opportunity to increase the biodiversity and create habitats on the site."

Last January, formal planning consent was finally granted for the 725-home 'Large Burton' development, which will be built off Willesborough Road.

The approved application only grants full permission for 288 homes, with outline permission for the other 437.

The first residents are due to move in during 2024, but construction is yet to start.

Quinn Estates was narrowly granted planning permission by just one vote in May 2020, but the developers have been held up by poor water quality levels at the Stodmarsh Nature Reserve outside Canterbury.

The project – which is in Ashford Borough Council’s Local Plan – was met with more than 1,000 objections before it was given the green light.

On the other side of the tracks, the first residents moved into the 300-home Conningbrook Lakes development in 2018, with more properties currently being built.