by political editor Paul Francis

Ministers are being pressed to spare key road improvement schemes in Kent from the axe.

The government has already announced plans to cut a massive £683m from the transport budget, raising questions about the fate of dozens of planned schemes in the south east and the rest of the country.

Now regional transport chiefs are calling on the government to ensure major programmes for Kent are safeguarded, saying they are vital to jobs, housing growth and easing traffic congestion.

The schemes include long-awaited plans to dual the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury, at a cost of £125m; and plans for the £27m Ashford Smartlink, linking the town to new developments.

A meeting of the South East England Partnership Board, due to meet on Friday will say that the schemes are "critical investment priorities" despite the exceptional circumstances and the need to save money.

The board, made up of representatives from Southeast councils, is responsible for recommending to government where money should be allocated for transport schemes.

A report due to be presented to the board on Friday (11) outlines its commitment to keep several Kent schemes in the government’s programme.

It states the scheme to dual the A21, which is linked to associated plans for the Hastings-Bexhill Link Road, must remain in the building programme. It is aimed at easing congestion on a stretch of road carrying 40,000 vehicles a day and improve journey times to Pembury Hospital.

Tunbridge Wells council leader Cllr Roy Bullock said: "There is a lot of pressure to maintain the scheme and it has to be taken seriously. I am optimistic it will stay in the programme."

The board’s report says up to 8,900 homes and 5,500 jobs would be affected if the government axed planned improvements to Junction 9 of the M20 and to the nearby Drovers roundabout.

"While there has been a slow down in house-building, failure to implement the schemes would undermine the growth of Ashford," it states.

Unless the work, which already has been earmarked for funding, goes ahead other planned development would not go ahead, it adds.