The developer behind the giant Peters Village project in Wouldham has sought to reassure villagers over plans for Hall Road.

Trenport has begun work on the scheme that will eventually bring 1,000 new homes to the land formerly occupied by Peters Cement.

Part of the scheme will see Hall Road turned into a ‘greenway’ to encourage use by pedestrians and cyclists, as well as vehicular traffic.

At the moment not many cars use the road – but many fear that when cars can go through it, they will be deposited at the narrow High Street as drivers seek to reach the new village.

The company has now issued a newsletter in which it seeks to clear up some of the misunderstandings that have been in circulation.

It said the greenway would be “as visually and environmentally attractive as any road can be.”

Trenport said the upgrade would “end the isolation that has worried the community for years.”

It would link the whole community on both sides of a bridge planned to span the Medway, giving access to the west bank’s shops, schools, and road, motorway and rail links, plus the new Peters Village, which would include a new medical centre, community centre and playing fields, school, and shops.

It argued that access by the emergency services to Wouldham would dramatically improve.

Trenport acknowledged that some residents feared Hall Road would become a rat-run but said it was taking steps to ensure this didn’t happen, including installing traffic lights at the entrance which would be timed to give faster access from Wouldham to the new bridge than in the reverse direction.

There would also be improved bus services funded by the company and these would have priority at the lights.