CRITICAL transport schemes like the Kingskerswell bypass would not be hit by spending cuts under a Conservative government, top Tory Ken Clarke (right) has vowed.

Warning of the dangers of slashing 'real investment', the Shadow Business Secretary said it had been a mistake in the past to cut funding to capital schemes.

He said having proper transport links would be essential to the recovery of South Devon and the rest of the region.

But he said there would have to be an increased reliance on private money to fund schemes.

It comes as the debate between the politicians over future spending cuts to get the nation's finances back on track continues to hot up in the run-up to the General Election.

The long-awaited link road in South Devon is 'critical' to the area's economy, with the £120million scheme among the top priorities identified by the county council.

The Government has provisionally approved £108million funding for the project which aims to ease traffic congestion which is seen as a major bottleneck between Torbay and the rest of the nation.

There is now broad recognition of the need to secure final ministerial approval before the next General Election.

Funding also has to be found locally to contribute towards the scheme.

An added sense of urgency has been sparked by the Department for Transport issuing a health warning that the economic downturn and financial uncertainty means it is uncertain whether funding for schemes will be available in the longer term.

When quizzed on the prospect of future cutbacks for transport schemes, officials would only say current spending commitments extended to 2011.

But speaking to the Herald Express, Mr Clarke said: "When controlling public sector spending and borrowing we will seek to ensure we don't jeopardise key infrastructure projects.

"Historically, the easiest thing to cut has always been capital programmes. People get less annoyed if you cancel the future than if you cancel the past.

"But we are all too well aware it is dangerous to cancel real investment, including investment in infrastructure, at times like this.

"Having the proper infrastructure is going be essential to the South West taking part in the recovery."

But he added: "It will have to be private sector financed not just public sector financed in future."

A DfT spokesman said: "The department's capital expenditure over the next three years was announced in the Budget.

"In the longer term any future budgets will be defined in the next Comprehensive Spending Round period."

This runs from 2011.