Business leaders have condemned proposals to scrap a vital rail link between London and one of the most deprived parts of Sussex.

The removal of a direct service from Hastings to Cannon Street is included in the Kent Route Utilisation Strategy, which outlines proposals for the future of the rail network in Kent and East Sussex.

Cannon Street is in the heart of the City of London and Sussex Enterprise, the county’s chamber of commerce, fears commuters living in the county will be forced to relocate to Kent if the service is scrapped.

Hastings and its surrounding areas have some of the highest levels of unemployment in Sussex and any attempts to regenerate the area could be badly hit if the rail link is severed.

Sussex Enterprise chief executive Mark Froud has written to the Rail Strategy Directorate to object.

He said: “The removal of this service is due to be implemented in 2015 but will begin to have a detrimental impact on Hastings and the surrounding areas beforehand.

“For example, poor transport links will put off inward investors relocating to the area and this will inhibit economic growth.

“Increasing accessibility is essential to unlocking the potential of the Hastings area.

“Clearly the benefits of the current massive regeneration package in the area will not be fully realised if there are not strong transport links between the City of London and the Hastings area.”

Mr Froud was joined in his opposition by Matthew Lock, lead member for transport and environment at East Sussex County Council, who has also written to the directorate appealing for the rail link to remain.

Coun Lock said: “Removing this service would make life much harder for residents commuting to London and may put people off moving to East Sussex or even cause people to move away from the county.

“This would have an adverse effect on economic regeneration projects in the area and hinder the county’s economic development.”

Coun Lock also criticised plans to reduce the number of carriages on trains to London. Now, eight-car trains run from Hastings to Tunbridge Wells, where four carriages are added. The new proposals would mean the eight-car train doing the entire route.

Coun Lock said: “We believe that this could cause overcrowding, congestion and again put commuters off living in East Sussex, having a negative effect on the economic development of the county.”

Consultation has now finished and the final strategy is scheduled for publication early next year.