Human waste could flood a residential road as a 450-home development puts pressure on an underground sewage system, neighbours fear.

Villagers say a brown-water pipeline which runs underneath Maydowns Road in Chestfield near Whitstable will not be able to cope with the added volume from the new Oxenden Park estate currently under construction in Greenhill.

Dr Peter Old, who lives in the road, says the system has experienced maintenance issues in the past.

Most recently, he said workers found tree roots growing through the pipeline at the top of Maydowns Road last month.

“The sewage pipeline is 40 years old and narrow," said Dr Old.

“If they connect up the new pipe from Oxenden Park, that would mean connecting a much larger pipeline into this much smaller one.

“It’s going to result in human waste floating down the street.”

Together with local campaigner James Flanagan, Dr Old has collected more than 125 signatures from locals who are also concerned about the works set to be carried out by Southern Water.

A spokesperson for the water firm said flows from the new development were being routed to the larger Swalecliffe treatment works instead of the nearer Herne Bay site.

But campaigners say that even so, the effluent will still be passing through the Maydowns Road pipe.

“Residents know the existing narrow pipeline won’t cope with the foul flow from an additional 450 houses,” said Mr Flanagan.

“It’s another example of planning being granted without due regard to the impact on local infrastructure.”

"The existing narrow pipeline won’t cope with the foul flow from an additional 450 houses..."

Canterbury City Council spokesperson Leo Whitlock said: "The connection of a development to the sewers is dealt with under specific legislation and is, and always has been, a matter for the developer and Southern Water to resolve."

A spokesperson for Southern Water added: “Southern Water has a legal duty to connect anyone to the sewer network on request and payment of the fee.

"We are not a statutory consultee for planning matters.

"When a new development wishes to connect, we ensure our infrastructure is fit for purpose and sufficient capacity exists in our treatment works and network."

The Oxenden Park developer declined to comment.