A year-long study into Hastings' transport and economic problems has been published amid criticism that it "sat on the fence".

Consultants who drew up the Access To Hastings study failed to make a firm recommendation on whether to build an eastern or western bypass for the town.

Much of the debate surrounded whether one bypass should be built without the other and whether the eastern stretch should be allowed to plough through an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Instead of coming to a conclusion, consultants Steer Davies Gleave recommended both strategies should be sent on to Government decision-makers.

Alan Storkey, chairman of Hastings and Bexhill Integrated Transport Partnership (Habit), said: "Habit regrets that the consultants have still not come forward with a firm recommendation for the bypasses.

"That is despite strong local opinion, a year of deliberations, the fact that reconsidering the bypass proposals was one of the main purposes of the study, and the fact that a clear majority of the Study Steering Group felt the case for the bypasses had been made."

It was argued that bypasses were vital to halt the economic and social decline of Hastings, which would open up the town to much-needed investment and jobs.

Mr Storkey added: "The only way to halt the spiralling decline of our economic and social problems in the area is for the Government to support the option that includes the bypasses."

David Andrews, chairman of the steering group which oversaw the study, said: "This isn't a case of us sitting on the fence. We have based the work very much on the evidence that has come forward and we can only draw conclusions from that."

The consultants' report will now go forward to the South-East England Regional Assembly.