Plans for a housing development which includes a school drop-off point off a busy road with “nightmare parking” has split village opinion.

Sixteen homes could be built next to Holywell Primary School in Forge Lane, Upchurch, as part of proposals some neighbours say will only increase congestion.

The estate would also include a safe walking route into the playground at the back of the school and an additional path to join up with the existing pavement.

Head teacher Nicky Murrell told KentOnline they had suggested the drop-off point and walkways during conservation with developer Cantium Land and Development due to the parking situation and how busy Forge Lane is.

The road is part of the Lower Road route which takes motorists between Medway and Sittingbourne.

“It is very busy in the morning and at pick-up times,” she said. “Traffic in the lane can travel quickly and we know that the parking situation can be frustrating for our neighbours hence our suggestion.”

The developer also says it will divert a “problematic” sewer, which is under the school’s grounds, through the new estate.

Mrs Murrell added: “Approximately 10 years ago, heavy rainfall caused flash-flooding locally and a backup of the drainage system inside the school. Southern Water fitted and continues to maintain an anti-flood device.

“We have had no further issues since but we believe that neighbouring properties continue to have problems when there is heavy rainfall.”

Cantium’s plans are in the consultation phase that ends on Friday, October 4.

It says its proposals “address” both the parking and sewage issues while providing “houses designed to meet local need”.

But not all those living in the village are convinced by the proposition.

David, who did not want to give his second name, has lived in his home in Forge Lane for 43 years and says parking at school rush hour “used to be worse” in the area.

The retired Royal Mail postman added: “There used to be people double parking across the road and in the other roads in the village but it has got better.

“Traffic does build up in the village but it only goes on for 20 minutes and then it clears up.

“So we don’t need the development and most people in the village will be against it although we don’t know all the details of it yet.”

Another villager, who did not want to be named, felt parking was “not an issue” as a lot of people now walk to pick up their children.

He said: “An extra 16 homes will not make things much worse and we need to build houses somewhere.

“I know some neighbours had issues with sewage a few years ago so if they are going to fix that problem as well it should not be a problem.”

One Forge Lane resident, who also did not want to be named, said the plans made “no sense” in terms of helping to ease traffic on the road.

He said: “Cars double park and do make access for some people hard and I don’t think the small drop-off point would actually make any difference.

“Adding another 16 homes and 32 cars to the area will only add to the parking and traffic problems.”

Grandfather Bill Phillips, who was picking up his four-year-old grandson from the nursery which is on the same site of the school, says he only does the school-run a couple of times a month but that parking is at times a “nightmare”.

The 72-year-old Rainham resident said: “Some people do double park right outside the school on the main road which there is no need for as there are other places to park in the village.

“A drop-off point is a good idea but I don’t know about the homes as I do not live here.”

Mum-of-seven Caroline Sargent, 49, whose daughter is in Year 5 said: “Parking is an issue outside the school but I think it’s a nationwide problem not just in this village as lots of people drive to pick up their kids.”

A Cantium Land and Development spokesman said: “The school’s representatives had approached the landowner several years ago to inquire as to whether any land could be made available to assist with parking issues locally and a problematic sewer under the school’s grounds.

“The proposed scheme helps address both, by providing a dedicated school drop-off and parking area, and diverting the sewer through the development, as well as providing for a modest and sympathetically designed scheme of houses designed to meet local need.”