Almost a hundred letters of objection might not be enough to stop another new housing development being built in Sholden.

Dover District Council’s planning committee is advised to grant outline planning permission to Greenlight Developments’ proposal for 48 new homes and a 68-bed nursing home on Churchfield Farm, The Street.

It comes despite 94 letters of objection including from Sholden Parish Council who have grave concerns over highways safety as well as the village status.

Ian Birchall, who has lived in Vicarage Lane with his wife Yvonne for 21 years, said residents - many of whom will be attending tonight’s planning meeting at 6pm in Whitfield - will not give up.

He said: “We’re still going to put up a fight!

“As most developers do they’re saying what they can do to enhance the area like putting extra classrooms in the school.

“But they’re land developers not builders. They won’t be building it.

“We are hopeful that our parish councillor Derek Wanstall who is speaking against it will put up a good argument.”

The village has seen a significant population increase in recent years due to new housing developments such as Sholden Fields.

Residents are concerned about the congestion the development would cause in Vicarage Lane after two homeowners in the cul-de-sac have agreed in principle to sell their homes to create access to the site – allegedly for more than the market value.

They also want to protect the rural land - which is not listed in the Local Plan for development - as it separates the settlements of Deal and Sholden.

But Greenlight say a green belt of trees will provide a level of screening, preserving the setting of the Grade II listed St Nicholas church, and serve as a buffer between the two settlements.

The firm has also proposed works to the junction of The Street with London Road down to Vicarge Lane to assist vehicles and pedestrians.

And, it has agreed to pay more than £340,000 in Section 106 money to help towards education needs, libraries and fibre optic broadband.

Case officer Darren Bridgett said: “Overall, the adverse impacts are not shown to demonstrably or significantly outweigh the benefits.”