Campaigners have slammed highway bosses for not coming up with an alternative to a traffic calming scheme they say has made a village street more dangerous.

Residents and road users in Coxheath believe the build-out scheme on Heath Road has caused traffic delays and led to more accidents, as the concrete constructions force vehicles into the face of oncoming traffic.

Worryingly, they say some drivers have begun mounting pavements to get round the build-outs during periods of heavy traffic.

In September Kent Highways said they were looking into alternative schemes, but this week campaigners slammed the authority for coming up with no new ideas.

Tony Monk of Westerhill Road this week presented a petition of 489 signatures against the current scheme to Kent County Council cabinet member for highways Cllr Keith Ferrin (Con).

Mr Monk said: “We don’t know what’s going on. It appears they’ve only looked at one other scheme and that hasn’t really been discussed.

“The fundamental problem remains; it’s a dangerous design.”

He urged opponents of the current traffic calming measures to attend a parish council meeting in the village hall at Stockett Lane, Coxheath, on Tuesday, January 27 at 7.30pm.

KCC’s county transportation manager David Hall said: “The build-outs were installed following full consultation and with the parish council’s agreement. They were installed to reduce traffic speeds and the onus is on drivers to slow down. Kent Highway Services has been carefully assessing the impact of the build-outs and is currently considering a report into this.”