A town is at risk of losing millions of pounds of Government grants allocated for key highways improvements because councils are "unlikely" to meet deadlines to submit a business case for each project.

Kent County Council had secured a promise of £8.9m to part-fund improvements to five key junctions in Maidstone.

The cash had been pledged by South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP), a body made up of business people and politicians which decides where Government cash should be spent to create economic growth.

The total cost of the road schemes, identified by Maidstone council's integrated transport strategy, was expected to be £14.24m, with the balance coming developers as part of conditions for being given planning consents, known as Section 106 contributions.

But stunned members of Maidstone council’s strategic planning and sustainable transportation committee heard that the business cases for each improvement are yet to be completed.

SELEP requires these to be submitted by November 16. Even if the deadlines were met, the committee was told it is unlikely all the schemes would be implemented by March 2021 - the date by which the money has to be spent.

At present the business plans are in place for only £4m of the works, leaving £4.9m at “immediate risk.”

Cllr Martin Cox (Lib Dem) said the situation was worse than that, because there was a risk that developers’ Section 106 contributions would have to be returned if the junction improvements did not go ahead.

Members were dismayed that so little progress had been made since the improvements had been agreed by a unanimous vote of both KCC and borough councillors on the Maidstone joint transportation board back in December 2015.

Cllr David Burton (Con) said: “Having sat on the money since 2015, we are at a point where Maidstone may not see the benefit.”

Maidstone’s director of regeneration William Cornall said although “the doorway was always open between the officers of the two authorities” it was up to the highways authority - KCC - to submit the business plans.

Asked whether there was any possibility the business cases could be submitted in time, Mr Cornall said: “It seems unlikely.”

Cllr Brian Clark (Lib Dem) said: “Time and time again I attempted to place this urgent work on the agenda for the joint transport board, but the last two meetings were cancelled because we were told there was ‘insufficient business to discuss’.

“I find it absolutely disgraceful that we could now lose £4.9m, which would ease traffic congestion in Maidstone, to another authority.”

When contacted by the Kent Messenger, a spokesman for KCC was more upbeat.

He said: “The business cases remain on track for the deadline of November 16.

“The Maidstone integrated transport package continues to be developed with a programmed delivery by 2021 - the SELEP deadline date.

“All infrastructure projects come with an element of risk, but Kent County Council officers are working hard to mitigate these and to continue to deliver on schedule.”