ROAD improvements to the A228 at Colt's Hill, between Pembury and Beltring, have failed to win priority in Government spending plans.

The road has become notorious for accidents, but the Government Office for the South East has said that it must take second place to other major schemes in Kent now being prepared.

Colt's Hill lies within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and ministers' normal policy is to presume against schemes which impact on environmentally sensitive areas.

Although proposals for an A228 Colt's Hill Strategic Link could pass eligibility tests, ministers have decided they do not wish to prioritise funding for them.

They told Tunbridge Wells MP Archie Norman (Con): "We shall reconsider the case for funding later in the New Year and will discuss this with you when we meet to give feedback early in 2004."

Mr Norman has now written to the Transport Minister to challenge the decision. He said: "It's bizarre that the Government sets tests and standards and yet chooses to ignore them when allocating funding for transport improvements for our roads.

"If the link would provide traffic and safety benefits, why is it not being reconsidered until later in 2004? Over the last two years alone, 54 vehicles have been involved in accidents along Colt's Hill."

Charles Mackonochie, of the Colt's Hill Action Group, said: "We have been campaigning for a long time for this improvement and we are very disappointed with this news.

"The accidents will continue on a weekly basis. Have people's lives really been taken into account in reaching this decision?"

Mr Norman spoke to KM-fm's Gina Hazard about the issue...