A bid to install a pedestrian crossing as part of plans for a new cafe opposite Deal Castle has sparked fears someone “could be killed”.

Proposals have emerged for the new traffic measures on what has been branded the town’s “dodgiest junction”.

It comes as English Heritage, which owns the historic castle, revealed plans to turn a disused building in the Captain’s Gardens into an eatery.

But in order to do so, it needs to create a safe way for people to cross Victoria Road to connect the two attractions.

Plans show the crossing would take the form of an island a few metres away from the entrance to the castle below Deal Castle Road and Gilford Road.

Identical plans for the cafe and crossing were previously approved in 2020 but have since expired, prompting the new application.

While the majority support the idea of a cafe, safety concerns have been raised over the crossing’s design.

Peter Davies, secretary at Deal and Walmer Chamber of Trade, says the road is “one of the most dangerous junctions for pedestrians” in Deal and feels a zebra crossing might work better.

“I walk from the north end to Walmer three times a week; that's the dodgiest part for pedestrians,” he said.

“Any safety measures or traffic-calming measures I wouldn’t have any objection too.

“However, traffic islands regularly get lamped by cars.

“We have had a number of accidents in that area and people take the corners like a race track.

“A zebra crossing would slow everything down and encourage people to drive sensibly.

“Or maybe a crossing where people can press a button so it will only operate when needed.”

Ward Cllr Daniel Parks (Lab) says while he is in favour of the cafe and the benefits it would bring to Deal, he feels getting the crossing right should be the priority.

“In essence, a crossing is a good idea, and with the cafe, any new places for people to eat and drink in Deal is fundamentally a good thing,” he said.

“But I'm concerned with the extent to which it would make an already tricky road to cross even more so. With more people going back and forth from the cafe to the castle, getting the crossing right needs to be the overriding concern.

“I agree it shouldn't be an island; I can quite easily see accidents happening given how busy the crossroads there can get - to me the safest option would be a zebra crossing or traffic lights.”

Commenting on the application, resident Marguerite Beard-Gould said: “The people who have shown support have not considered the crossing which is an integral part of this application and that this is a dangerous corner and intersection.

“I object as this is not actually a crossing, but a traffic island in the middle of a very busy road.

“If this was a crossing controlled by a light then this would be acceptable, but it is not.

“Imagine a child jostling for standing space on this 'island' in the middle of a busy road. One arm flung out at the wrong moment and a person of any age could be killed.”

The new application is light on details on what the new crossing could look like, but English Heritage explains it has submitted the plans “without any alterations” to those previously approved.

An English Heritage spokesperson said: “As part of our plans to breathe new life into the disused building in the Captain’s Gardens, English Heritage had previously agreed to take on work to construct a pedestrian crossing going across the road from the castle.

“The crossing would be in the form of an island as stipulated by Kent County Council Highways department.

“Planning permission was previously granted, but due to delays with the necessary legal agreement from KCC to enable work on the road to take place this has now expired.”

If approved, the building in the Captain's Garden will be changed from residential to a cafe providing 28 covers inside and 52 outside.