By Hayley Robinson

There's uncertainty about whether funding has been secured to complete the Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road.

Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond announced last week that he wanted to ensure the greatest number of highway and local transport schemes will be able to proceed, facilitating economic growth and providing more jobs.

The Northern Relief Road is one of those roads and Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson thought it meant funding had been secured for the final section.

But on Wednesday Mr Henderson admitted there had been a misunderstanding and money is only secured for the stretch up to the East Hall Farm development.

He said: "I think there's been some confusion over what has been secured and I am writing to the Secretary of State for Transport for clarification.

"If there's no funding for the second half then I will be pressing hard to get a commitment that it will include that. If it doesn't then the whole road is totally pointless."

Earlier this year residents were asked for their opinions on a route for the final section which would link the East Hall Farm development at Murston with the A2 at Bapchild, bringing a reduction in town centre traffic and a hoped-for regeneration of the area.

There are three route options. One is for it to come in on the Faversham side of Bapchild and join the East Hall Farm estate, the other follows a similar line but comes off at the Sittingbourne end of Bapchild and the third is to run both and have a roundabout, effectively creating a Bapchild bypass.

It is estimated the work will cost between £15 million and £45 million.

A decision on the route is expected to be made by Kent County Council (KCC) early next year. It was due to consider a report on the final section of the road this week.

Cllr Mike Whiting, who asked for the report, said: "Despite various consultations we appear to have reached an impasse in respect of a preferred route.

"This road is of strategic importance to the regeneration of Sittingbourne and the surrounding areas."