Neighbours were split down the middle over a scheme to build eight homes.

There were 36 letters for it but another 36 against for the proposal for Durlock Road in Staple near Sandwich.

It was voted through by planning councillors last Thursday but those against the development said it would worsen traffic density on the road.

They argued that it was small and narrow with no road markings, footpath or street lighting and cars could not pass each other.

They said this was overdevelopment and that Dover District Council had exceeded its housing quota for the village.

One protester, Shelley Morris, told DDC's planning committee: "Staple lacks the infrastructure. There is no shop school and the impact on wildlife would be unacceptable."

Others also said that the village does not have the medical services or employment opportunities to support the scheme.

'Staple lacks the infrastructure. There is no shop school and the impact on wildlife would be unacceptable' - Shelley Morris, protester

Neighbours supporting the application said the affordable homes included in the scheme would give young people the chance to stay in the village.

They also said this was a small development and would cause minimal disruption.

They added that the land is former farmland, which has not been used for many years.

The application is for full planning permission for six houses and two bungalows at the edge of the village boundary which lies in between Sandwich and Canterbury.

Six would be earmarked as local needs housing and the other two would be for the open market but used to cross-subsidise the local needs homes.

The application is by the London-based English Rural Housing Association.

Alison Thompson, from the organisation, told the meeting: "We are working with the council and others to provide affordable homes and we have them at St Margarets-at-Cliffe.

"They would help further sustain the rural community. People would otherwise be priced out of their community."

Planning officers recommend approval.

They believed that efforts had been made to design a scheme sensitive so there would be no adverse impact on the areas's character.

Kent County Council's highways department also accepted the development.

It said there would be a small amount of extra traffic from it so it was unlikely to badly affect the highway network.

READ MORE: All the breaking news across Kent