There are fears the “strobe-effect” glare coming from bright hoardings along a seafront road could distract drivers and lead to an accident.

Residents say the the sunlight is bouncing off the large white boards around land at Princes Parade in Hythe, where 150 homes and a new leisure centre are planned.

The panels have remained in place around the boundary of the site for months to ensure it remains secure, despite work being paused on the controversial scheme after costs began to spiral amid strengthening financial headwinds.

Once described by a campaigner as “a monument to one man’s arrogance” - namely developer Folkestone and Hythe District Council’s (FHDC) leader Cllr David Monk - the hoardings have now raised complaints over a potentially dangerous glare.

Resident Evelyn Stace says the reflection of the sun at certain parts of the day is “disturbing” drivers.

“On particularly sunny days, the sun in the sky is quite low and it shines across the sea so you’ve got glare on one side, and then off the other because of the hoardings,” she explained.

“Because the wall is made up of panels you then get an almost strobe effect when you’re driving along, which is very much distracting.”

With the weather gradually improving, Ms Stace says she fears the glare could cause further issues on the 40mph road.

“I would like to think that it would not cause an accident as, by and large, people stick to the speed limit on the road, but it is an unnecessary risk,” she said.

“All it takes is one person to be caught by the glare and for another to be crossing at the wrong time.

“I would like to know when it can be removed. The spending has been ceased [on Princes Parade] and there’s no telling when work will resume. I’d like to think there was a time limit on something like this staying up.”

FHDC is behind the project along coastal road Princes Parade, where as well as the swimming pool and new homes, shops and green open spaces are planned.

Work on the land - a former waste site - started in 2021, but has since paused while costs are evaluated.

An FHDC spokesman says concerns raised over the glare are being investigated.

“Over several visits of the site, we have yet to see the reported glare but appreciate the effect may be dependent on the weather and time of day,” they added.

“Further checks will be carried out to ensure we assess the hoardings in all weather conditions.”

While vegetation has been cleared from the land, and animals relocated, including moving badgers to a new artificial sett, construction is yet to start.

Councillors insist work will restart once the economic situation settles and the “immediate financial risk” to the council reduced.

The project has long been fought by those living in Hythe, with campaigners previously launching Judicial Review, although this was eventually lost.

Cllr Leslie Whybrow (Green), who sits on the district council but opposes the scheme, added: “The real question is why was the hoarding put up at great expense to the council tax payer when it should have been apparent by then that the Princes Parade project was not financially secure.”