New measures to cope with extra traffic generated by an extended Sittingbourne Community College should be sorted out before a £6 million expansion takes place.

That’s the view of people representing residents who are concerned at the impact an extra 300 pupils will have on existing traffic problems in roads near the school.

Jenny Bravery, who has lived in Swanstree Avenue for 42 years, explained what people living in the road encounter on a daily basis.

“Staff are the worst problem. We get a lot of people who work there parking along here,” she said.

“They extended the car park for the school but they still park on the road. Some parents do park inconsiderately and they trash all the verges.”

Mrs Bravery said she was also concerned about the combined impact of more school children coupled with more housing, up to 600 homes planned for Bapchild and possibly 540 off Swanstree Avenue.

“We are going to have no green space left,” she added.

Cllr Sarah Aldridge (Con), Roman ward representative, said she had been working with Cllr Paul Fleming (Ukip) to help residents over SCC’s plans, which include a new drop-off area.

“Obviously they are not happy and quite rightly so. At the moment you have staff and parents blocking people’s drives and parking on the verges.

“There’s an accident waiting to happen.

“There’s a piece of land they want to use for the coach drop- offs, pick-ups and extra parking and that would come off the A2.

“We would like to see them implement that now, before the expansion. If they implement that now they will have residents on their side.”

County councillor Roger Truelove (Lab) went to last Tuesday’s public consultation exhibition and spoke to residents, head teacher Fiona Trigwell and KCC project officers.

“I am happy with the location on site of the new build and its design,” he said.

“However, I repeated my view that there would be general discontent locally unless the project involved a new entrance and drop-off point, especially for buses.”

"Expansion simply leads to congestion problems and solutions to these must be part of the planning process" - Cllr Roger Truelove

Cllr Truelove was due to meet with the school and parking enforcement officials to see if measures could be put in to improve the current situation around Swanstree Avenue and neighbouring roads.

He added: “We cannot avoid the reality that there is a school place shortage in Sittingbourne.

“Expansion simply leads to congestion problems and solutions to these must be part of the planning process.”