Not a single employer has guaranteed they will come to the green field site development the bypasses would supposedly open up

Gillian Bargery, bypass protester

Gillian Bargery, who runs an alliance set up to fight the bypass, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If the roads go ahead, they will lead to a green field development which will be completely inaccessible to the two most deprived wards in Hastings and St Leonards and this is actually stated by the government's own consultants.

"Not a single employer has guaranteed they will come to the green field site development the bypasses would supposedly open up.

"But even if they come, the jobs will not go to the target group, they are much more likely to go to newcomers who will move to the area, because the green field site will also contain many, many new houses."

Positive signs

John Page, director of 1066 Enterprise, which tries to bring jobs to the area, denied the bypass would defeat its own purpose.

He told the BBC: "Our history over the last 10 years has shown that we have moved on from having 15% of our population unemployed to just over 4% through firms coming here and establishing very good businesses and there has been no trouble with people getting to work.

"To accompany the road, we need to bring improvements in public transport as well, which is all part of the government's multi-modal study.

"We are looking forward to seeing an improved rail service and a metro service to help people get around Hastings without using their cars."

The road would cut through wildlife haven

The government has pledged itself to improve public transport and to limit the use of private cars.

But Ms Bargery feels let down by the government.

She said: "There are hundreds of thousands of people up and down the country who will be watching this decision because this Labour government was elected in 1997 on a commitment to protecting the environment, to improve public transport as a priority and to try to stop green field site development.

"The bypass would contravene all three of those policies."

Some opponents predict any government sanctioning of the development will lead to "the second battle of Hastings", a reference to the crucial fight in the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 AD which took place nearby.