A THREAT to delay long-awaited plans to improve a busy main road has been vetoed despite the estimated costs of two key schemes spiralling by more than £111million.

Regional transport chiefs met behind closed doors on Wednesday to consider a report by the South East England Regional Transport Board that recommended delaying plans to dual the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury.

The quango's report also placed a question mark against plans to improve the A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst scheme, saying there were now doubts about whether it represented value for money.

But there was relief after councillors from south east authorities rejected the report in the face of intense lobbying from five Kent and Sussex MPs, led by the Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark (Con).

As a result, both schemes are to remain priorities for the region, meaning they will be earmarked for government funding.

He said: "We have won this battle but we are a long way from winning the war. The task now is to convince ministers how important these projects are."

The report revealed the costs of dualling the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury - regarded as crucial to the development of the new Pembury hospital - had risen to £112million, an increase of £48million.

Meanwhile, the costs of improving the A21 at Kippings Cross had soared by £63million to £103million.

Both schemes have reached a critical point in their development, with work scheduled to start in 2010.