Uckfield-Lewes rail line pledge by Transport minister

Assurances about safeguarding the track-bed of the former Uckfield to Lewes railway line have been given to MP Norman Baker.

Rail minister Theresa Villiers told Mr Baker, the MP for Lewes: “I am very much aware of your long-standing support for re-opening the Lewes–Uckfield line” and said he was “correct that both parties in the Coalition have expressed support for protecting track beds where possible”.

She referred to the route being “safeguarded by both Wealden and Lewes District Councils” as part of the changeover towards “Local Development Frameworks”.

This shifts responsibility away from county councils following the abolition of County Structure Plans.

Mrs Villiers said she had spoken to the Department for Transport’s Head of Property, Malcolm Twite, who “assures me that the plans have been specifically designed to ensure that they would not prevent the Lewes–Uckfield line from re-opening in the future”.

She had also been advised that “the proposal to move the road could actually make it easier to put together a case for re-opening the railway. This is because a re-opening would, in all likelihood, require a bridge to be constructed.”

She continued: “Although there was a level crossing when the line was formerly in use, you will appreciate that the current policy of Network Rail and ORR is not to introduce new level crossings. I am advised that it would be easier and more cost effective to build a bridge over the railway using the new alignment for the road rather than the current one.”

Uckfield rail campaigner and project manager for the Brighton Main Line 2 project, Brian Hart, fears the safeguarding could be a hollow guarantee as it could be swept away.

He said: “The problem is that the county council intends slicing the critically-important station site completely in two with this new ground level road. This will worsen the business case for reopening because the road will have to be elevated over the station and railway, or moved elsewhere to allow trains to pass through. This is simply loading costs onto Network Rail.”

Campaign chairman and Uckfield Deputy Mayor, Duncan Bennett, said: “Given the astounding turnaround of the Uckfield line in recent years, the unimaginable rise in rail demand generally, as well as the looming capacity crisis facing the south’s main lines into London, it would be sheer folly to throw away this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“Norman Baker is plainly right to say we need more capacity between the Sussex Coast and London and, as he says, investment in the Uckfield line is the only way we are ever going to achieve it.

Mr Bennett added: “On a more local level, I am keen to see Network Rail get involved and take possession of Uckfield’s station site so it can be developed into a major transport hub. It may well be that at some point a new road may be required, but it must be properly-designed to accommodate the all-important railway.

"We must also take into account residents’ fears about serious flood risk posed by having another road bridge built at grade (on the level) across the river.

"Uckfield is a booming and expanding town with a fantastic future and I am determined we get the best.

“The town desperately needs parking for commuters, as well as renewed rail links with the surrounding towns such as Lewes, Brighton and Eastbourne. I want to see imaginative and truly creative thinking deployed.

"This would be a good opportunity for Network Rail to demonstrate the flair it has shown with successful commercial station redevelopments in London and elsewhere. We can all be winners on this.”

*Source: The BML2 campaign website where you read in full what the Minister said with Mr Hart’s comments.