THE idea for a 20-acre theme park in the Kingsmead area of Canterbury has been given a rough ride by city councillors.

Time Travellers promises to bring a unique, medieval style, visitor experience to the city - and up to a million customers a year.

If its gets the backing of the public, and planning permission, it would be the centrepiece of the ambitious Kingsmead redevelopment plan. But the £25 million concept ran into its first hurdle on Monday when it was criticised at a meeting of the council's area members' panel.

Cllr Harry Cragg (Con) said it would be a "retrograde step" for the city which had to consider schemes that would not increase traffic congestion.

Cllr Fred Whitemore (Lab) said: "It seems to me there will be no chance it will happen because we have to take the traffic implications very seriously. People are already expressing huge concern to me about it. We have to look at other leisure and sport uses for local people."

The public will be able to see the proposals at two forthcoming exhibitions. On Saturday and Sunday, (January 25 and 26) the plans will be on show at the Northgate Community Centre and the following two days at the Kingsmead Leisure Centre.

Visitors will be invited fill in questionnaires giving their views which will be collated and presented to the city council in March.