A near miss which saw a boy dodge a speeding car has raised more concerns about a new road layout.

Kingsley Franklyn, seven, was out playing with friends last Monday night when he had to dive out of the way of a vehicle tearing down Barnes Way in Hillborough.

He suffered bruises on his hands and cuts to his knees and was left “shaken” by the incident.

Parents are calling on Kent Highways to rethink plans they approved with Canterbury City Council redirecting traffic down the housing estate.

Kingsley’s father Andy was in his lounge when the incident occurred.

The car was occupied by four youths, who stopped and apologised to him.

Mr Franklyn said: “I heard someone scream Kingley’s name.

“I went to the front door and he was standing there shaking, with tears in his eyes.

“I ran up the road and told the driver what for. There were four youths in the car and in fairness, the driver apologised.

“There is no need to drive through the estate and I don’t know why people go at that sort of speed.

“My son had to jump out of the road to avoid a bigger injury.

“It is down to us parents to educate them more but children will chase their footballs and ride their bikes on the path.”

The new road layout encourages motorists to drive from Reculver Road, down Barnes Way and Neville Road and onto Sweechbridge Road.

In last week’s Gazette, families complained the residential roads are not designed for higher levels of traffic and that the layout could cause accidents.

Mr Franklyn, 39, of Barnes Way, thinks the incident involving his son underlines the point.

He said: “I think it is appauling. It is a ridiculous idea. Why would you take traffic off the main road and force it through a housing estate?

“Initially my son was upset and shaken. My wife was more affected because she realised how bad it could have been.

“It has brought it all home to us. It is inevitable a kid will be killed on that road if the proposals go through. The way the road is now encourages people to go that way and it will make things worse.”

At present, markings push traffic down Barnes Way from Reculver Road.

More roadworks are set to alter it further to add pavement, leading cars through the housing estate, similar to pavement at the junction between Neville Road and Sweechbridge Road.

Kingsley's friend Ruby Neale has written a heartfelt letter to the council asking them to stop the road alterations.

The seven-year-old Reculver Primary School pupil wrote the note to Kent Highways director John Burr.

It reads: “My friend called Kingsley nearly got hit by a car yesterday.

“I am glad he is okay but I am very sad because I won’t be able to play in the park.

“The road I live in is going to get busy if you don’t stop the road changes.

“Please help me and all my friends.”

Ruby’s father Jack Neale, 36, who is heading up the residents’ campaign against the layout changes, said: “Since the near miss we have had to tell all the children they can’t play in the park.

“Ruby asked why and I said it is going to get busy so she asked to talk to Mr Burr.

“It is sad because it is actually our children it is affecting. It is their quality of life and safety we are concerned about, not the value of our properties.

“Children won’t be able to play and that letter says a lot.

“I am perplexed that a proposal approved in 2004 can take until 2013 to be completed.

“No one was aware. None of us were told when we bought our houses that the road would become a through road.”

Kitewood Group is carrying out the roadworks as part of the conditions of the planning permission it was given when it built the housing estates at Barnes Way and Neville Road.

The works’ completion is imminent.

Director Mike Dolan said: “I am sympathetic to this man’s plight but there is nothing I can do.

“The works are required under the Town and Country Planning Act and consent for the development was made conditional upon these works being carried out.

“They are not, therefore, something Kitewood has any discretion over as they are goverened by legal agreements with KCC.”