Cycle paths, lorry provision and extra parking are what is needed from the North Deal Relief Road, it has been claimed.

Plans for the new road were discussed at the Dover Joint Transportation Board on Thursday and Cllr Mike Eddy and Cllr Trevor Bond raised concerns.

The road – planned for Middle Deal between Southwall Road and Albert Road – is part of a wider scheme by Quinn Estates.

This includes 142 homes, a nursery, offices, and a food shop, which is rumoured to be Aldi.

Speaking at the meeting, members of the board said the junctions might be difficult for lorries to negotiate and there was no provision for cyclists.

Cllr Bond said: “It’s a good idea to reduce traffic in Southwall Road and Middle Deal Road but we’ve got to solve these problems to make it work and I don’t think highways have answered all the questions yet.”

He claims the entrance and exit of the road would not be suitable for lorries and large HGVs would not be able to pass each other on Southwall Road.

As many lorries will be passing through, Cllr Bond fears sat- navs may end up sending them the wrong way, potentially blocking the fire station.

Cllr Eddy said: “Kent County Council has a unique opportunity to really address the problems faced by residents in this part of town but, because this is a joint development using some private finance, the public’s long-term needs come second to the private sector’s short-term need to make a few quid.

“What should be done is creating more off-street parking in the area and putting in facilities to get at least some road users out of their cars. Not to mention making the road suitable for HGVs, which was surely the main purpose.”

The final decision will be made by Dover District Council’s planning committee.

If the relief road is built, it will provide access to the park via the new housing estate, potentially alleviating existing congestion and delays at Southwall Road and Middle Deal Road.

A bid for £800,000 has been agreed from the Local Growth Fund to help pay for the infrastructure and the developer will pay the rest.

It could see a new priority junction with Albert Road, a new link road and paths on the north and south sides, and a reconfigured road geometry at Southwall Road, providing better separation between the existing junctions.

"Kent County Council has a unique opportunity to really address the problems faced by residents in this part of town." - Cllr Eddy

Thom Morris, Kent County Council spokesman, said the road had been designed to allow two HGV vehicles to pass.

He said: “KCC has requested more on-street parking .

“KCC will review routes for pedestrians and cyclists through the site when the internal layout of the housing is considered.”

Quinn Estates had not responded to our queries by the time The Mercury went to press.