Plans to set up a contraflow system for a new bus service are going ahead despite fears it could lead to serious road accidents.

Kent County Council is to send buses on Dover’s yet-to-be-launched Fastrack line on a designated route along Pencester Road in the town centre.

It means buses and bicycles will be able to travel in both directions for the first time as the road is currently only used by traffic going south towards Biggin Street.

This is being done by the triggering of a traffic regulation order following a public consultation.

Cllr Neil Baker (Con), KCC cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “I agreed to progress the order following much consideration of the professional advice of the highways experts, alongside the consultation responses.

“I know this was not a universally popular course of action, but having reflected on everything before me, I was - and am - convinced that this change will have an overall positive impact on improving movement around Dover.

“As with all changes to the highway, it will of course be monitored going forward.”

The decision has prompted anger among residents, with several speaking out on the Dover for Dovorians (original) Facebook group.

Julia Lukins described it as ”an accident waiting to happen” while Lin Alvey said “road traffic accidents are imminent, an ambulance will need to park up close by”.

Carol Frattini said: “Only when it's a pig's ear will they see it doesn't work.”

KCC says work on the contraflow system, which is expected to cost £1.5m, “is likely to be carried out over the summer”.

But it is unclear when the Fastrack scheme - Kent’s first zero-emission bus route - will be launched.

The first passengers were expected to use the route, which will see buses connect Whitfield with the town centre and Dover Priory railway station, in early 2024.

But the opening was delayed and KCC now says an update will be published on its website after the general election.

Once in place, the Pencester Road contraflow will allow buses and bicycles to join the road from Worthington Street and Biggin Street and travel north towards Maison Dieu Road.

That would be in the opposite direction to the existing one-way but they would be allowed to travel in the other direction too.

Cars could only continue in the existing one-way flow, going south.

Pavements would also be narrowed to make more space for the new road layout, while a central island would be installed to separate two lanes and provide gateways for the bus lane.

Last year, Cllr Mike Walters, a former bus driver, warned at a joint district and county council meeting that someone could ultimately be killed if the contraflow plan went ahead.

He explained that local pedestrians would not be used to buses going opposite to the usual one-way flow and would not hear the silent electric buses.

Cllr Walters, of Deal Town Council, told the Dover joint transport advisory board: “If you’re crossing Pencester Road and you’re expecting vehicles coming one way and you suddenly get a completely silent bus coming the other way there’s a high probability you will be injured or maybe even killed.”

Traders in Pencester Road also raised concerns over the proposal, with many worried about loss of business if parking spaces are removed.

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

The plan requires all parking spaces outside a row of shops in the street to be shut off.

When the £34m Fastrack project is launched, KCC is expected to use diesel-powered buses because purpose-built electric models will not be ready in time.

In April, the authority said delays to the electric fleet mean diesel machines will be used to "operate the service effectively" when it starts running.

It said it is trying to source temporary electric buses until the dedicated ones are ready.