by business editor Trevor Sturgess

The South East England Development Agency, soon to be axed by the government, has pledged to continue to back Kent projects until its dying day.

SEEDA chairman Rob Douglas told KentOnline that in many ways, it was business as usual for the agency - which has an office in Chatham Maritime - being replaced by local enterprise partnerships.

While SEEDA's closure date is uncertain, it could survive until March 2012. Mr Douglas said funding for Turner Contemporary in Margate, Ashford town centre and the Queenborough and Rushenden regeneration scheme would be protected.

Although funding for Kent this year has been cut from £15m to £12.6m, SEEDA would back "some programmes right to the end and why we want to work with the successor bodies to make sure they pick up the ball."

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However, organisations like Locate in Kent, Kent Economic Board and the Thames Gateway Kent Partnership have borne the brunt of SEEDA's spending cuts.

Mr Douglas said it was important to promote the region during this period of uncertainty.

It would be "tragic" if it missed investment opportunities "because we are rearranging ourselves".

He has urged Business Secretary Vince Cable not to overlook the importance of the south east as the UK's economic powerhouse.

"This is the part of the economy that generates the biggest tax take. No government would want to put that at risk."

He had no issue with the decision to scrap SEEDA.

"The Government can absolutely choose how they want to have their programmes delivered or if they want those programmes delivered at all.

"The really important thing it to make sure we don't lose momentum on economic growth in South East England."