by Graham Tutthill

People living near the site where a new joint grammar school is planned say they are concerned about the effect it will have on the area, particularly road safety.

An outline application has been submitted for the new school, which is expected to accommodate more than 1,320 pupils and 166 staff, off Melbourne Avenue.

It will be created to replace the existing boys’ and girls’ grammar schools at Noah’s Ark Road and Frith Road respectively.

Residents on Buckland and Green Lane estates are particularly concerned about two vehicle access points which they say are planned "in a very dangerous place".

"If the plan goes ahead it will have an economic effect on the town of Dover where shops are already struggling for survival, destroy a Roman Road - of which there are very few left in the country - and lead to more accidents and deaths on the road," said Marion Beatty, of Hirst Close.

"It is planned that the vehicle and pedestrian access to this site is via Melbourne Avenue which is already a very busy road.

"The increase in buses and cars that will need to use Melbourne Avenue, not forgetting commercial lorries and delivery vans, will lead to more accidents and deaths."

Full story in this week's Dover Mercury, published on Thursday price 60 pence.