Massive local support for the Lewes - Uckfield rail reinstatement has prompted the government to revise its new Regional Transport Strategy.

In March this year, the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) effectively proposed that the Lewes-Uckfield reopening be dropped. However, during this spring's public consultation on the document, officials were deluged by responses in support of the scheme.

In a letter announcing the new strategy, David Cooper, GOSE's Deputy Transport Officer, disclosed that of 718 individual comments, no fewer than 244 were in support of the Lewes-Uckfield rail link - more than eight times the 30 responses achieved by the next most popular topic.

Mr Cooper went on to note that as a result of this:

the Secretary of State has concluded that a reference to this proposal be included in the supporting text relating the project to the development of the South East Plan.

On page 32 of the strategy document itself, there is the following reference to the Lewes-Uckfield project:

Other public transport proposals that promote mode shift* and which can facilitate delivery of the spatial strategy, such as reinstating the Lewes to Uckfield line, should be considered for inclusion in the South East Plan.

"Bearing in mind that GOSE made it clear from the start of the consultation that it didn't envisage policy revisions," said Brian Hart, Campaign Director of the Wealden Line Campaign, "this change of heart by government must be seen as a major achievement for the campaign and all those who want better rail services in Kent and East Sussex. It goes without saying that we are very grateful to all those individuals and organisations who made their views known."

"And while we don't expect government funding for the project at this point," he added, "the minister's decision is very significant, not only because it's an acknowledgement that this issue isn't going to go away, but because it clears the way for East Sussex County Council to drive the scheme forward."

Notes for editors

* ie from private cars to public transport

3 August 2004