East Riding of Yorkshire Council wants to make a stretch of Bessingby Road, between the B&Q roundabout and Station Avenue junction into four lanes to ease traffic congestion.

But the move will bring traffic about 6ft closer to roadside homes.

Letters telling residents on either side of the road were hand-delivered in July saying work would begin in October, but most say that was the first they had heard about ideas for traffic improvements.

Jo Smith-Fox, 40, said: "We tried to get more information from the council but were given the impression it was a done deal.

"There was an offer for someone to come and talk to local residents by the end of August but we have heard nothing."

Like other residents she is worried about increased noise, pollution and being forced to back cars out of their drives into the busy road.

"At the moment the pavement is wide enough for us to back on to and drive forward to join the traffic," she said.

Caroline Armitage, 43, has lived there for 14 years and Karen Randerson, 47 a resident there for 10 years, both said it was already impossible to sit out or have front windows open because of traffic noise.

"You can expect that if you live on a busy road, but with four lanes of traffic much closer to us, no-one is going to want to live here, it will devalue our homes.

"We already have radiators rattling inside the house when heavy traffic goes by," said Caroline.

Karen added: "The last time they had to dig up the footpath cracks started appearing in my walls due to the vibration."

The road widening is part of the town's integrated traffic management plan which includes the park-and-ride on Bridlington's south shore, new roundabouts and improved junctions and electronic signs – all designed to smooth out congestion which chokes the town centre and its main access roads during the summer months.

B&Q roundabout is being replaced with four sets of traffic lights, while St James Road will be blocked off at the roundabout end and become access only from the opposite end.

Bridlington town councillors have written to ERYC saying they want the roundabout to stay and St James Road should remain open. They also want Hull-bound traffic directed up Bessingby Road to Carnaby and then Bridlington Bay Road.

Brian Phillipson, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's senior project manager said letters had gone out to keep people informed and gauge opinion and people should make their views known by phone, email or letter.

"I did offer to meet with local residents and that offer still stands. We could arrange a room at the town hall for a group to get together, but I have not had any request for that to happen," he said.

He explained planning permission was not needed for the highway improvement work as the council already owns the wide footpath outside the houses.