Construction has started on Peters Village - a new 1,000-home community, half a mile from Wouldham.

But Wouldham residents are unhappy.

Under the traffic management plan submitted by developers Trenport with the company’s planning application, construction traffic to the site should be using Court Road in Burham.

However, residents claim many vehicles are accessing the site via Hall Road, a narrow lane adjacent to a site of nature conservation interest (SNCI).

Gill Goode of the Wouldham Village Committee said: “This route also necessitates using Wouldham High Street or Knowle Road, both of which are unsuitable for heavy or increased traffic. This is why traffic should be routed via Court Road, which is being upgraded specifically to cope with extra traffic.”

The group has written to Cllr David Brazier, Kent County Council’s cabinet member for the environment and transport, asking that Hall Road be closed to through traffic from a point just south of 111 Hall Road.

Residents fear once a bridge over The Medway is completed will be the creation of a new rat-run from the A228 to Rochester that will vastly increase traffic through Wouldham and Borstal.

Trenport issued a statement: "Our priority during the Peters Village development is to create minimum inconvenience to our neighbours - the local residents.

"Nevertheless, although there is no planning condition requiring us to use any particular route for site access, Trenport and our main contractor BAM Nuttall have voluntarily, and in negotiation with all representative local councils, agreed a Traffic Management Plan.

"This means that all sub-contractors currently setting up the Peters Village site compound/offices, have been instructed strongly in writing and by phone that they cannot bring their trucks through Hall Road/Wouldham High Street and must use the Court Road route.

"Most drivers are already observing this courtesy but, in these early stages we accept that a few mistakes will be made and they will dealt with appropriately."

The company said: "In advance of main construction starting at the end of June, BAM Nuttall is this week installing routing signs at key junctions.

"BAM Nuttall has assured Trenport that they will closely monitor all plant routes, and this will be much easier once the compound is in place and their staff are onsite.

"A key reason why BAM Nuttall was appointed was because the company has an excellent reputation for liasing with site neighbours and communities."

On the longer term issue of the "greenway", the company had this to say: "We understand that representatives from the unelected group, Wouldham Village Committee, have sought local comment and advised Trenport that some residents wish to see Hall Road closed to all vehicular traffic - a decision that would have to be made by KCC Highways.

"However, we would argue that a more substantial number of local residents are looking forward to the access that will be granted to the west bank/A228 once the new Medway Crossing has opened.

"This new link will also offer greatly improved access for emergency vehicles which will benefit all residents on the east bank.

"The access strategy and highway works associated with Peters Village were approved by the relevant highway and planning authorities in 2006 and by the subsequent Reserved Matters approvals.

"Our proposals and the subsequent approvals took full account of views expressed by local residents during our pre-application consultation in 2005 and representations received by the relevant authorities during the formal, post submission, consultation stages.

"As reiterated by Trenport at our meeting with representatives of Wouldham, Burham and Aylesford Parish Councils and the ward councillors on May 14 we remain fully committed to maintaining an open dialogue with the elected representatives of the local communities and to addressing any genuine issues or concerns they may have, in partnership with our contractors."