Cyclists need to be protected if a clogged-up road becomes one-way.

That was the view of Deal councillors who were responding to a unanimous call from residents in Middle Deal Road to tame the route.

It is plagued by 40-tonne trucks thundering through it and the double parking of cars.

Cllr Dominic Harper warned a Deal Town Council meeting on Tuesday last week : “One-way roads can have a knock-on effect of increasing traffic.

“This could push cyclists out to London Road, which is very busy.”

Cllr Trevor Bond said: “We should have proper cycle routes like in Continental Europe and Australia. I agree, we have to look after cyclists.”

Councillors agreed that the issue should be taken to Dover’s district and county council joint transportation board.

Cllr Ben Bano said: “You can get up-pushed to officer level but if it’s not at political level it can be kicked into the long grass.”

Councillors had been responding to a report by deputy mayor Nick Tomaszewski on a public consultation meeting on the problems, held on July 24 at Deal Town Hall.

He said: “Unanimously, the people of Middle Deal Road are in favour of a one-way system.

“Dover District Council don’t have the clout to do it but we need to ask our county council members. We should meet them to find a way to advance this.”

Lorries in the area tend to head towards the Southwall Industrial Estate. Problems also affect Southwall Road, Albert Road and Church Path

Residents fear that the noise and congestion will be worsened with planned new developments nearby such as 140 homes, a supermarket and a nursery off Albert Road by Quinn Estates.

Deal’s two county councillors, Cllr Bond and Derek Murphy, are on the JTB.

Its next meeting is on Thursday, December 7, at the district council offices in Whitfield.