Parents have voiced fears about a new road layout which they believe will put children in danger.

Roadworks on Reculver Road, completed last week, now divert traffic down Barnes Way and Neville Road before connecting to Sweechbridge Road.

Families are complaining the residential roads are not designed for the high levels of traffic and that a nearby playground is not adequately fenced off.

They also think it could cause accidents as unsuspecting drivers approach the new layout, which has kerb jutting out into Reculver and Sweechbridge Roads.

Planning applications for the road alterations were originally approved by Canterbury City Council and Kent Highways in 2004 and 2006.

Submitted by subsidiaries and partners of developers Kitewood Group, which owns the land, the changes to the layout were conditions of the applications to build 98 homes in Barnes Way and 61 houses and flats in Neville Way.

The reason given was that it would relieve congestion at the junction between Reculver Road and Sweechbridge Road, near to Reculver Primary School.

Yet residents think the roadworks should never have been given the go-ahead so long after the initial applications were approved.

Tony Nuttman, 46, of Barnes Way, said: “Lorries will be driving through an area where kids have never had to worry before and they won’t realise it.

“It will cause massive problems. All the regulars who know the road are not going to realise it sweeps into Barnes Way and will drive at it quite speedily. It is going to cause a massive accident.

“None of us residents knew about it.”

Jack Neale, 36, of Barnes Way, has sent letters to residents encouraging them to contact Kent Highways about the changes.

He said: “Kids will end up getting killed and that is what scares me. I cannot see why this was agreed.

“We bought this property on a private estate which we pay management fees for. It’s grossly unfair.

“We are already rammed full with cars when parents drop their children off to school.

“The park has no railing or any form of protection to the road. Children play ball games and entertain themselves in the open space and I have seen them run into the road on so many occasions without looking.

“As cars going through this road will inevitably increase our children will have to stay in and not play in the park we pay a management company to run because of a decision Kent County Council has made.

“Otherwise my kids’ welfare is in jeopardy.”

When Kitewood Group submitted its planning applications for Barnes Way and Neville Road, it needed approval from both Canterbury City Council and Kent Highways.

While the city council is in charge of approving development in the area, any road alterations require the approval of Kent Highways, part of Kent County Council.

Once approved, the developer will carry out the roadworks as soon as it can, hence the potential for long delays.

Kent County Council spokesperson John Todd said: ”The road scheme was agreed and approved by Canterbury City Council, the local planning authority, as part of planning consent for the development.

“The aim of the scheme, which is funded by the developer, is to relieve congestion and overcome safety issues at the junction of Sweechbridge Road and Reculver Road near the local primary school.”

Kitewood Group director Mike Dolan said: “No developer has the power to reroute traffic in that way without council approval.”

City council spokesman Robert Davies said: “We’re not aware of this issue but will look into it.”