Alternative Rail Links from Lewes are Possible

Throughout March and April 2012, East Sussex County Council (ESCC) have been consulting the public on potential road schemes that would aim to improve the traffic situation that is experienced in the neighbouring town of Uckfield. Local Public Transport Campaigner, BML2 advocate and Lewes Town Councillor Matt Kent is calling on ESCC not to implement one of the 5 proposed Options that would seriously jeopardise the reinstatement of the Lewes to Uckfield Rail Link. In an individual response from reviewing the East Sussex County Council Uckfield Traffic Improvement Options Cllr Matt Kent said,

Lewes Councillor Matt Kent

‘It is very clear from the detail and the communication of the options – Option D, Phase 1 would seriously jeopardise the reinstatement of the Lewes-Uckfield Rail Link or the more ambitious Brighton Mainline 2. It’s all well and good East Sussex County Council saying that they are committed to protecting the unused rail line, when in fact, they have no power to protect it at all, as that would be the responsibility of Wealden District Council. I urgently call on local MP’s and District Councillors from both Lewes and Wealden Districts to challenge ESCC on the technical validity of their schemes’.

ESCC Cannot Protect the Disused Rail Alignment

He continues, ‘It is also very disconcerting that there is currently very little traffic modelling information in the public domain that proves that any of these ESCC proposals actually work. Before any decisions are made I call on East Sussex County Council to provide the base data that proves that these options work to reduce traffic in and around Uckfield. I’m fully aware that there is pressure to increase the number of homes in Uckfield, but it would be shear madness to jeopardise a future rail link that would provide the needed capacity in the region and benefit the residents and businesses of a developing Uckfield’

The end date for the Uckfield Traffic Improvement Consultation is April 23rd 2012.

Matt intends to continue to campaign and raise the profile of BML2, and hopes that residents, local businesses, chambers of commerce, local governments and local MP’s support the aims of BML2. If you want to follow BML2 for up-to-date information on twitter, click > @BML2INFORMATION.

About these ads