SHOCK figures reveal the number of new jobs being created in Ashford is falling woefully short of what is needed, sparking fresh concern about the town’s prospects as a key growth area.

Countryside campaigners say that between 2001 and 2004, some 2,800 new jobs were supposed to have been created in the area.

But the actual figure was just 400 while in stark contrast, neighbouring Maidstone - which has not even been given special government support - saw 3,000 new jobs over the same period.

The figures were produced by Kent branch of CPRE, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England which has called for an immediate halt to major housing development and a review of house-building targets.

It says the figures, drawn from economic data about new employment, indicate serious shortcomings in Ashford’s development as a growth area and increases the likelihood of the area becoming a sprawling dormitory commuter town.

CPRE planning officer Elizabeth Rix, author of the report Ashford: A Vision In Peril said a review of house-building targets was essential.

She said: "The South East plan clearly states that if new employment does not come forward in Ashford, the housing numbers must be reduced.

"Ashford must not become an enormous sprawling housing estate, whose population trawl up to work in London each day on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link."

The CPRE was "generally supportive" of the town’s status as a key government growth area, she added but "so far, we can only say one thing with confidence: we are looking down the barrel of 31,000 new homes, most of which will consume green field land precious to this crowded corner of England."

CPRE’s figures come after Ashford council leader Cllr Paul Clokie admitted it was hard to know where new jobs would come from.

The claim that Ashford is losing out on the race for jobs was rejected by Martin Bacon, the managing director of Ashford’s Future, the body charged with meeting the Government’s growth targets.

He said: "I believe that there is no immediate cause for concern. It was always been intended that initially housing would be ahead of job creation.

"I have every confidence that the jobs will come overtime. There are, after all, 25 years of the programme to run."