TRANSPORT Secretary Lord Adonis has refused to comment on speculation that transport schemes in the Westcountry are facing spending cuts.

A report prepared by officers from South West Councils, the successor to the regional assembly, has suggested that the Westcountry should plan for a reduction of up to 50 per cent in the funding the region receives from the Department for Transport (DfT) for major infrastructure projects.

This could include schemes such as improvements to the A30 entrance into Exeter.

Devon County Council is due to approve a £26 million highways investment package this week but many elements of it, such as an £18m scheme including a number of improvements at Junction 29 of the M5 and A30, is dependent on the success of a bid for £12m from the Department for Transport for the work.

This funding is yet to be rubber-stamped and the South West Councils fears this could be on the funding cut hit-list alongside schemes such as the long-awaited South Devon link road.

Lord Adonis said it was up to the region to "prioritise transport projects for funding from within regional funding allocations".

"That's a process that has to take place before funding can be allocated. It is not a matter for central government."

But asked if councils were wrong to begin planning for likely cuts after the election, he refused to comment.

"We don't know what the size of the envelope will be for any department yet. I can't comment on where we will be."