Councillors are to review Ashford’s economic state following a request for a report into the borough’s financial health.

Cllr Neil Bell called for a report to be considered at a forthcoming Executive meeting, following the conclusion of last Thursday’s session.

Talking to the Kentish Express following the meeting, Cllr Bell spoke of his fears that “if the situation is as bad as I think it is, we may need to lower the number of houses [to be built].”

Cllr Bell told councillors of a Kent County Council economic report from November last year which carried league tables for local authorities.

He told the Kentish Express: “With regard to workplace warnings, it suggested that Ashford had slid down that league table from 2003 to 2008.”

According to Cllr Bell, the council’s housebuilding premise has always been predicated on the availability of jobs.

But an economic report reflecting concerns over employment and workplace earnings may have an effect on housebuilding.

He suspects that the report could form part of a Local Development Framework meeting at the end of the year.