The future of a new dual carriageway has been thrown into doubt after highway bosses confirmed work has been pushed back another year.

Long-awaited works to upgrade a stretch of the A28 Chart Road in Ashford were supposed to start in 2018 when scores of trees were felled in preparation.

But now Kent County Council, which is funding the £26.2m scheme along with Hodson Developments, says it has been pushed back until “early 2025”.

It comes as council documents suggest Hodson - which is behind the first phase of the nearby 5,750-home Chilmington Green development - has applied to amend an agreement which states it must put forward money to pay for the upgrades when 400 properties are occupied.

It is unclear exactly what Hodson wants to change, but it has sparked further doubts about the future of the project, which is due to be built between the Matalan and 'Tank' roundabouts.

In a full council meeting held last month, Ashford Borough Council's deputy leader Cllr Steve Campkin (Green) said Hodson has formally applied to ABC and Kent County Council to "significantly change the obligation along with many more in the section 106 agreement".

"At this stage, neither ABC nor KCC are minded to agree to that," Cllr Campkin said.

"We have indicated we are willing to discuss it with Hodson.

“A decision will need to be made when 400 occupations are reached about whether we wish to restrict any further occupations.”

Section 106 agreements allow councils to get money from developers in exchange for granting planning permission for projects, making a development proposal acceptable in planning terms.

Cllr Bernard Heyes (Con) told the meeting how dualling is vital for the whole of Ashford.

“I'm concerned about the whole thing,” the Repton representative explained.

“I think it is extremely important that this stretch is dualled.

“The traffic congestion is horrendous at peak hours because there is a dual carriageway at Templer Way that goes into the stretch between the Tank and Matalan roundabouts and there is chronic congestion.

“This is all to do with the volume of houses in Ashford, particularly Chilmington Green.

“It goes into a bottleneck.

“Under the agreement, they have to produce the bond to finance it.

“It's a legal agreement, unless they are successful at changing it, then there is a problem.”

ABC leader Cllr Noel Ovenden (Ashford Independents) says something needs to be done to carry forward the improvements as soon as possible.

The Wye representative has been in charge of the authority since May when the Ashford Independents and Green Party took control.

"We want it to go ahead as quickly as possible," Cllr Ovenden said.

“I experience the traffic problems on Chart Road each morning; something needs to be done.

“It is a road that has been struggling recently. We need to have that silver lining so we know it will get better going forward.

“Of course, we still support the dualling but it is between KCC and the developer, they just need to get on and get it done.”

Former ABC leader Cllr Paul Barlett (Con), who represents the Mersham, Sevington South with Finberry ward, says he is "delighted" the new administration is supporting the project.

"KCC has recently commissioned a new traffic survey which shows the scheme is badly needed to reduce congestion and improve travel times," he said.

"I was worried that the new administration would be less supportive of car-based journeys but those fears were unfounded.”

In a statement, a KCC spokesman confirmed work on the project, which was due to begin next year, has now been delayed until 2025.

“Work is progressing in preparation for the start of works on the A28 Chart Road improvement scheme, now planned to get underway in early 2025," he said.

“This includes working with stakeholders, such as the local developer, to understand the optimum time to begin construction works for the widening and dualling of the road.

“In order to unlock financial contributions from the developer, for KCC to progress this project, 400 homes must be occupied.

“This is in line with criteria set out in planning conditions formalised by the local planning authority.”

An ABC spokesman said: “As Cllr Campkin stated in a recent council meeting, discussions are ongoing between KCC and ABC and both have reiterated their desire to see the dualling go ahead.

“The funding for the scheme remains the responsibility of the lead developer at Chilmington, as agreed by all parties in the section 106 agreement relating to that development.”

Last year, plans for Ashford's fourth McDonald's were approved for land next to the 'Tank' roundabout, but work is yet to begin.

Work is yet to begin on the drive-thru, which is set to stay open for 24 hours and feature 136 seats.

KentOnline contacted Hodson Developments for comment, but did not receive a response.