by political editor Paul Francis

Long-awaited plans to dual the A21 in Kent have suffered a major setback after the government announced today it was postponing a public inquiry into the scheme because of the government's spending review.

The news is a major blow and raises a serious question mark over the fate of the £125m scheme to improve the stretch of road between Tonbridge and Pembury.

Transport minister Philip Hammond said the government was not committed to fund previously agreed schemes to the same amount and that no decisions on them were likely before the Autumn.

There is now a halt on further spending to develop schemes in the roads programme, he said.

In a statement, the minister said that the A21 was among those projects that would now be suspended while a review was carried out.

"Only once the government's spending review has been concluded will the Department for Transport be in a position to identify those major investments that can be supported."

A letter released by the Highways Agency from the Government Office of the South East states: "In view of the uncertainty over the availability of funding for this scheme, it has been decided to postpone, for the time being, the holding of the local inquiry. We aim to provide you with an indication of the way forward for this scheme later this year once the spending review is complete."

The A21 scheme is aimed at easing congestion on a stretch of road carrying 40,000 vehicles a day and improve journey times to Pembury Hospital.