Sixty-five homes have moved closer to being built on a former gas works – despite fears the scheme will make a bridge “even more dangerous”.

Councillors threw their weight behind The Mockett Trust’s plans to erect the estate off Northdown Road in Broadstairs during a meeting last week.

Drawings show the entrance to the development will be moved closer to St Peter’s railway bridge – which one member described as a “frightening, shocking revelation”.

Tory councillor David Hart said: “It beggars belief they want to do this.

“If you drive over at any speed you can’t see what’s on the other side. It’s an absolutely frightening, shocking revelation.

“Moving the junction closer to the bridge makes it even more dangerous.

“The last thing I want is a kid running into the road or a parent with a child in their car being hit by some idiot coming over the bridge because it’s been deemed safe putting that road closer to the bridge.”

Eastcliff councillor Steve Albon (Lab) also noted he was concerned with the proposals, having already decided against driving along the route due to the number of “stupid” people whizzing over the railway line.

But local authority planners told the meeting that relocating the access route will allow motorists leaving the site to have a clearer view to the other side of the overpass.

Papers show the project will comprise 20 “affordable” properties along with a new “ecological area and public open space” featuring a pond.

The Mockett Trust is also willing to fork out £1.25m to decontaminate the land.

Documents penned by the developer say: “We would, at significant expense, remove the remainder of the contamination and treat the ground water so the site would be safe.”

The plot was originally part of an agricultural field, but was developed for the production of coal gas between the 1920s and the 1950s.

It was then used as a gas holder site until the mid-1990s.

Despite the concerns raised, the scheme was voted through.

Final details will now be finalised between The Mockett Trust and council officers before the project is officially signed off by the authority.

In the majority of cases like this, plans are given consent.