Controversial plans for a new secondary school in Ashford are set to be approved despite fears traffic 'will put children's lives at risk'.

Chilmington Green Secondary Academy will form a key part of phase two of the 5,750-home estate off the A28 Ashford Road.

It will be built by contractor Bowmer + Kirkland on behalf of the Department for Education and will have space for 900 pupils aged 11 to 16, and 240 sixth-formers when it reaches full capacity in 2031.

While the academy will help address the need for school spaces in the borough, the impact on the road network has resulted in a number of objections with some saying the access will lead to "children's lives being put at risk".

As part of the plans, access to Chilmington Green Road from the A28 Ashford Road will be closed to traffic permanently by September 2023.

The point of the closure is to ensure cars instead access the school from the east, via a new road network in a bid to reduce congestion.

A new roundabout will be built where the A28 Ashford Road meets Sandy Lane. This will connect to the new road called The Avenue.

Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council says it objects to the application until assurance can be made that the school will not open before the access roundabout is in place and Chilmington Green Road has been closed.

Echoing concerns, Kingsnorth Parish Council feels the location is not sustainable due to lack of infrastructure and has also objected.

It is worried about the impact it would have on the highway; limited walking and cycling connections; insufficient car and coach parking and insufficient EV charging points.

Original plans made room for 113 parking spaces plus six disabled spaces.

This has now been increased to 162 spaces, including six for blue badge holders and 24 spaces for sixth-form students.

Space for 228 bikes in a secure store are also proposed.

KCC Highways initially raised concerns about the impact on the highway and the level of car and coach parking.

However the authority says it now has no objections so long as certain conditions are met.

It wants to ensure the vehicle and bike parking spaces and all new access roads are provided before the school opens.

It also wants developers to provide at least 15 electric vehicle charging bays before the school opens, and asks for the rest of the parking spaces to have room for the technology to be installed in the future.

The school, which is proposed to be Net Zero Carbon (NZC), is expected to employ about 120 full-time equivalent teaching staff.

It will also have a sports centre which will include a four-court sports hall and fitness studio, with two junior grass football pitches and a running track.

Four forms of Year 7 pupils will be the first to use the facility if approved which will feature a main building of three storeys in height.

The scheme will be discussed by the planning committee on Wednesday, with Ashford Borough Council planning officers recommending the project is approved.