by political editor Paul Francis

Long-awaited plans to improve the A21 and ease congestion on one of the South East’s most notorious bottlenecks are again in doubt.

The Department for Transport has confirmed it is cancelling one scheme along the A21 because of spending cuts - the £103million improvement scheme between between Kippings Cross and Lamberhurst.

And it says no decision has been made on planned improvements between Tonbridge and Pembury.

That project may be pushed back years if it proves unaffordable over the period of the current spending review.

It could mean it being sidelined until at least 2015.

The improvements are linked to associated plans for the Hastings-Bexhill Link Road.

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

In a statement, the DfT said: "The Highways Agency have been taking forward a number of other schemes whose priority we are still considering, in light of the spending review settlement.

"Some will proceed in this spending review period; others will be the subject of further preparation for possible funding in future spending review periods.

"Further announcements will be made in the next few weeks."

A spokeswoman confirmed that the Tonbridge to Pembury improvement project was among those in limbo.

However, the cancellation of the Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst improvements will be seen as ominous.

In a statement, the DfT said there was little realistic prospect of that project getting funding now or over the next spending review - which will happen after 2015.

Tunbridge Wells council leader Roy Bullock said: "So long as the Tonbridge to Pembury scheme is in there, that is positive because it may be among those that do get the go ahead.

"But I am most disappointed that the remainder of the A21 schemes have been removed."