A controversial project to build a green walkway down the middle of a busy road hangs in the balance after councillors demanded a review.

About 30 people turned up to protest plans to replace the central barriers at Tolworth Broadway with 500 metres of grass and plastic ‘greenway’ at a neighbourhood committee last month.

Despite the opposition, councillors at the meeting voted in favour of the project with a majority of eight to two, with two abstentions.

But now councillors have called in the decision on the grounds the proposals failed to provide enough detail on the pedestrian’s safety, traffic congestion and the impact on motorists and residents.

According to a spokesman at Kingston council the £2.6m project, partly funded by Transport for London, will now face further analysis at a scrutiny panel.

Berrylands councillor Karen George was among three Conservative councillors who called for the review.

She said: “We are concerned that the tearing down of these barriers and the proposed informal crossing will be extremely dangerous to pedestrians.

The Tolworth roundabout is one of the busiest parts of the A3 and we feel that further scrutiny is required before the work begins.”

Alan Slade, who attended the meeting in December, said traffic calming measures plans would lead to huge congestion.

He said: “Trying to create a green village type feel next to the A3 is not only an impractical waste of desperately needed council money it also completely ridiculous.”

Transport chief Roy Thompson, who is leading the project, said the traffic impact had been tested “vigorously” through traffic modeling and simulations.

He said: “We recognise and respect the local democratic process and welcome the opportunity to explain the scheme in more detail.

“We are keen to continue to engage with all stakeholders to deliver this innovative project which will underpin the revitalisation of Tolworth Broadway."

If given the go ahead, work is due to begin in April and should be completed in time for the Olympics.