MOVES to cut serious accidents on the A21 where it crosses the Kent and East Sussex border near Flimwell are due to start of May 1.

The four-week project, which will involve reducing the present dual carriageway to single lanes in both directions, and slashing the speed limit from 70mph to 50mph, has got the go-ahead after pressure from local MP Archie Norman.

Mr Norman, 50, Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells, raised the issue of A21 improvements with roads minister David Jamieson during a Commons debate on Tuesday.

After being told that the Government had since agreed to "measures to deal with problems at the large accident cluster" on the A21 near Flimwell, Mr Norman hailed it as "a victory for commonsense".

He said: "It has taken eight years to get here, but the Minister has at last agreed that safety measures need to be put in place along this small but lethal stretch of road. In the past five years, there have been 121 accidents there and seven people have died."

Mr Norman said he had been assured the work would start on May 1 and take about a month to complete.

But the MP is still pressing for a new dual carriageway to be created on the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury, and is angry that the likely date for this particular project has slipped from 2006/2007 to 2008/2009.

He said: "We discover that not only has the timetable slipped but the whole proposal is to be deferred while another wasteful consultation takes place, this time with the South East Regional Assembly."

Mr Norman pointed out that the Regional Planning Body had already approved the scheme as part of its Access to Hastings study and felt that in referring it for further consultation the Government was smply dragging its heels.

Valerie MacGuane of the Flimwell Residents' Action Group, said: "My initial reaction to this news is one of delight, although I still have reservations about how they are going to implement it.

"If they simply rely on painting white lines, that won't work. There needs to be a physical barrier confining traffic to a single carriageway. But if this is going to save people's lives, we see it as a step forward."

Mrs MacGuane said that the long-term goal was to see the A21 south of Lamberhurst re-routed completely, leaving the Flimwell stretch as a local road.

The Highways Agency is due to exhibit plans for A21 Flimwell to Robertsbridge improvements at the village hall in Hurst Green, East Sussex, on Friday afternoon.

Mrs MacGuane added: "Archie Norman has worked steadfastly and tirelessly to try to get the A21 sorted out, and he has shared our frustration at the lack of progress from the Highways Agency and the Government.

"For a man used to building up businesses, I am sure this inertia has contributed to his decision to stand down as an MP at the next general election, and I can only say we're very sorry to see him go."