Sussex Express, November 1968
Strong opposition to the granting of licenses to the local bus companies to run extra journeys between Uckfield and Lewes to replace the train service is expected when South-Eastern Traffic Commissioners meet at Lewes Town Hall next Wednesday. The train service cannot be withdrawn unless the additional bus licenses are granted.
Mr Stanley Eede, of Station House, Buxted has written to the Commissioners, appealing to them to consider the future welfare of inhabitants of the area when deciding whether the road between Uckfield and Lewes can take a few extra buses.
He says that it is agreed that very few passengers use Isfield and Barcombe Mills stations but contends that the saving of the wages of the four men employed would have a very serious effect on the lives of thousands in many other ways.
Pointing out that apart from his war service period he has travelled over the line daily for over 50 years, he states that conversation with fellow passengers reveals that 95 per cent will travel by car or motorcycle rather than use the buses.
Referring to conditions on the roads, Mr Eede states that it is easier to walk through Uckfield or Lewes rather than travel in a road vehicle, and he estimates that at least another 500 cars and motorcycles with L-plates would attempt to join the present traffic twice a day in winter and a further 2000 in summer.
With reference to the line between Uckfield and Oxted, Mr Eede says closure of this would force another 3,000 onto the roads twice daily in the winter and 5,000 at other times.
"It is obvious," he goes on, "that British Rail still hope to lose the responsibility of managing this traffic. This can be seen by the arrangements they have made to commence on January 6 (without hearing your decision). An elaborate train service has been advertised to run on this part of their system, but by the agreement made with the bus company whereby the trains and buses shall not connect at Uckfield, only commuters to London in the morning and back at night will be using the trains.
"Throughout the day empty trains will run hourly in each direction at the taxpayer's expense until they are in a position to prove that the line is terribly in the red. Passengers will definitely not travel by rail to Uckfield to wait half an hour for a bus with the walk in between, and all the receipts from fares between Kent etc., and Sussex will cease. In off peak periods today 10 times as many people are travelling by the line down for closure to one travelling on the line to remain open. The plans include the erection of a new station at Uckfield when 80 per cent of the traffic has been turned on to the roads."
Other points he makes are the risk of passengers being stranded at Uckfield if the buses fail to make the connection with the last train to Tonbridge, that the high rates charged by the bus company for schoolchildren's season tickets will have to be borne by the taxpayers, the likelihood of more road accidents through increased road traffic, car parks already fully occupied, thousands of new houses* in the Crowborough-Uckfield area occupied by young couples whose children will soon have to travel, the last alternative rail route between the coast and London would be severed, and great doubt about whether the line is running at a loss.
(abridged)
* In 1966, Uckfield's population was just 4,300. Today it is more than 13,000. (Official Wealden District Council figures)