Traffic bosses admit that a “desperately needed” bypass on the east of the city could feature in future transport policy.

This week they faced calls for a direct link between a proposed housing development at Howe Barracks and a new A2 interchange planned near Bridge.

Such a scheme would alleviate traffic in the already crippled city centre as thousands of new homes are built in south Canterbury, say backers.

It would also create an effective ring-road system around the city and fill a “gaping hole” in the council’s current transport blueprint.

A government inquiry into the authority’s housing and transport masterplan has been told that the existing road network was “fudged up” in the post-war years and has barely been improved since.

Urban planners are expected to build more than 15,000 homes across Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable, with the vast majority earmarked for sites in and around the city.

New properties are to be serviced by a series of link and slip roads to draw traffic around the congested city centre.

But Sophie Scott, of the Alliance of Canterbury Residents’ Associations, says the ageing road network cannot cope with increased pressure, even with the new roads added.

“The items of infrastructure identified in the Local Plan are lacking a link,” she said. “There’s a lovely structure of supply roads going from the far side of Sturry, through the barracks and then suddenly ending.

“What’s the point in then having a gaping hole in the middle? The Local Plan is deficient.”

Richard Moore, Canterbury City Council’s transport manager, told the inquiry this week that an eastern bypass “would not be reasonable” at this stage as only 15% of the current city centre traffic would use it.

“You’re building a very expensive bypass through very sensitive land,” he said.

But James Wraight, speaking on behalf of Kent County Council, conceded “that doesn’t mean there isn’t a need for an eastern bypass in the next Local Plan”.

“Any infrastructure that’s delivered needs to be affordable and deliverable,” he added.

Government inspector Mike Moore is considering the city council’s current plan, and will publish his findings in the months to come.

In it he could make recommendation for alterations to the plan, which could feasibly include the addition of an eastern bypass.

Ms Scott told the Gazette: “It’s desperately needed. They say only 15% of city centre traffic would use it, but what about the thousands of new homes in the area?

“What if you want to get from south Canterbury near Bridge to B&Q in Sturry Road to buy some screws? You’d have to go into the city centre.”

Addressing the inspector, she added: “We are looking at a transport system that was fudged up in the post-war years and slightly improved in the 1970s by building the A2 bypass.

“No improvements have been made other than pedestrianising the main high street. You cannot say something designed after the war is fit for purpose given the volume of heavy goods vehicles and traffic we have today.

“We have to look ahead and say ‘come on guys, this is a lovely city. Are we going to choke it to death? Are we going to build all these homes but not build enough roads?”