The Mayor of Queenborough is leading a residents’ protest over a proposed housing development – citing fears over child safety, sewage and flooding.

Battle lines were drawn at a meeting of the town council on Monday chaired by Mayor Jeff Andrews who voted to oppose the development off Moat Way, Queenborough.

Already Swale council has received 11 written objections from residents in time to meet the its deadline of January 31 for views.

If approved, the application by Dragon Queenborough Ltd, based in south west London, would see four two-bedroom houses, four three-bedroom houses, four four-bedroom houses and four one-bedroom flats built on a disused site – some 0.7 hectares (nearly one and three quarter acres) of rough grassland.

Alderman Val Dane, who lives in the Moat Way cul-de-sac, said: “The proposal is to have three-storey properties built on a flood plain. Building 16 properties there is over-intensive for such a small site. And construction lorries entering Moat Way presents a real nightmare.”

Cllr Andrews, who also lives in Moat Way, agreed saying: “To get to the site, contractors will have to use Sterling Road, which is the road to Moat Way. This will lead to unacceptable congestion. At weekends there are 72 residents’ vehicles parked in the area.

“The proposed site is low-lying marshland with protected species on it like birds, newts and snakes. Worryingly, the developers intend to use the existing drainage system on the north side of Moat Way which is totally inadequate.

“Very often the drains overflow and so danger of sewage spills and flooding presents a horrendous prospect for residents. The plan as it stands is ill-conceived. This is an opportunity for me to fight for the people of this area.”

Natalie Barker, of Moat Way, said: “As there are many children living nearby, an additional volume of cars would, in my opinion, make the area far more dangerous for them.”

A spokesman for Swale council, Mark James, said: “As yet, there is no set date for the application to go before the planning committee.”