The closure of a busy A-road for 13 weeks will cause traffic “chaos” and leave children struggling to get to school, it is feared.

The A257 Littlebourne Road in Canterbury will be shut from July to October for “connection works” understood to be linked to the neighbouring housing development at the former Howe Barracks.

The closure, stretching from St Martin’s Hospital to Chaucer House Care Home, has been branded “ridiculous” by county and district councillor Mike Sole.

He told KentOnline: “I can’t believe how much of a nightmare it will be.

“It will be absolute chaos. When I first saw it, I assumed it must be a misprint.

“How can you close a main artery into the city like that for 13 weeks?”

The route serves villages such as Littlebourne and Wingham, and is also used by drivers heading to Canterbury from Thanet and Sandwich.

The closure is set to be in place from July 24 to October 22. A diversion route sending drivers along the A2 has been planned, but Cllr Sole says this is “not practical” due to the length of the detour.

He adds that surrounding roads that drivers may use as alternatives are narrow and single-track.

“They are often used by pedestrians and cyclists. You get some big lorries down there too,” he said.

“KCC needs to go back to developers and see what alternatives there are.

“I know they have to close it for a period of time, but 13 weeks is absolutely ridiculous.”

There are also concerns over how buses will cope, with one local branding the closure “a joke” on social media.

Cllr Sole, the city councillor for Nailbourne ward, said: “The first thing I did when I heard was contact Stagecoach about the buses.

“They said they still don't know what they will do. I have no idea how kids will get to school.

“The new school year is always chaotic and youngsters going to secondary school for the first time won't have a decent bus route to school.

“I’m very concerned for people who rely on public transport. They should not have agreed to it without Stagecoach already having a plan.”

The Lib Dem representative suggests only closing the A257 overnight and at weekends, but said: “Kent County Council (KCC) and the developers need to have another look at it and come up with another plan.

“There must be an alternative.”

In a clsoure notice, KCC says: “To allow new connection works to be carried out, Kent County Council has made an Order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on part of A257 Littlebourne Road, Canterbury.

“The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while works are undertaken by O'Halloran & O'Brien Ltd.”

Stagecoach has been contacted for comment.