LINK ROAD GREEN LIGHT

The news was announced by the Department for Transport, and means detailed work to take the scheme through to planning and technical approval stage can now get underway.

Councillor Matthew Lock, Lead Member for Transport and Environment, is over the moon at the news. He said: "We put together a very strong case for this road and are pleased that the Minister has not been persuaded by the small minority that objected to it.

"Building this road will enable us to look at better public transport facilities, such as bus lanes and help support the massive regeneration programme in the area which means more jobs and opportunities for local people."

The new road could create up to 4,000 local jobs - potentially cutting unemployment in the town by up to 50 per cent. It will also take pressure off the polluted A259, which exceeds national air quality standards.

Councillor Lock concluded: "Let's not forget that 84 per cent of people who took part in our consultation wanted a road. None more than those people living along the A259, who suffer more than 30,000 vehicles crawling past their homes daily, who can at last look forward to a better and healthier quality of life."

But some environmental groups have slammed the decision.

Mike Turner of Hastings Friends of the Earth said: "It is unbelievable that the government has approved this road when it has a clear policy of only allowing road-building as a last resort in sensitive areas like this. The Combe Haven Valley is a beautiful and tranquil landscape that could be lost forever. At 47million this scheme is extremely costly both financially and environmentally."