Controversial plans for road improvements at an East Sussex accident blackspot were turned down today.

At the same time, it became clear that no progress has been made over plans for a Hastings bypass.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling rejected five projects to ease congestion on the A27 and scrapped £27 million improvements for the stretch of road between the Southerham roundabout, Lewes, and the Beddingham roundabout.

Highways Agency chiefs had earlier this year exhibited details of a £16 million proposal to build a flyover across railway lines at Beddingham.

The plans were greeted with scepticism by members of the A27 Action Group, who felt the project would do little to ease congestion or reduce accidents.

Chairman Alan Chapman said the plans were sited within the boundary of the proposed National Park and called into question facts and figures released by the Highways Agency.

Mr Darling was making a statement this afternoon to the House of Commons on his multi-billion-pound national road expansion scheme.

But the announcement will not deal with the thorny issue of the Hastings bypass, which was rejected in July 2001 by then Transport Secretary Stephen Byers despite huge local support. The proposal is still being considered by ministers.

Today's decisions came after members of Transport 2000 and Friends of the Earth said the proposal would brutally scar the South Downs National Park.

Mr Darling also rejected other schemes across Sussex including Chichester bypass improvements, the Arundel bypass, Selmeston bypass and Wilmington bypass.

The Worthing tunnel, which would have taken the A27 underground around the town and Lancing and under parts of the South Downs, was rejected outright.

Mr Darling also used the announcement to take the first step towards the introduction of controversial "road user charging" schemes.

He said: "It has to be considered as part of sensible management of our roads. It could provide a far better deal for motorists giving them choice as to how and when they travel."