The Wealden Line Campaign has called for Uckfield's former station site, disused since April 1991, to be returned to use as a car park for rail users. The campaign's plea comes as new Turbostar trains, about to enter full service on the Uckfield line from the start of next week*, look set to create new pressure on rail parking space in the town.

Campaign Director Brian Hart said: "With a full service of new trains, many people from the Uckfield area who have been driving over to Lewes and Haywards Heath for years will now be thinking about coming back. That's bound to increase pressure on town centre parking, but without adequate spaces there are going to be problems."

At present, Uckfield's small station has just 13 spaces. Other nearby car parks are short-stay ones for shoppers, and residents of adjacent streets have already complained of parking problems. Things have got so bad that some Uckfield rail travellers are even using Buxted station so that they can find somewhere to park.

"With the existing pressure for parking and new trains entering full service, it's crazy to leave the old station site just growing weeds," said Mr Hart. "With minimal expenditure, you could solve all the station parking problems at a stroke, and help to ensure that the excellent new Turbostar trains enjoy the patronage they deserve."

In the past, developers have often seen the site as a prime town centre building location. But now, in the light of the October 2000 floods, these plans look much less credible. However, since then, the Environment Agency has tried to stop any plan at all involving the old station site, even its use as a car park. "Until 1991 the station yard had been used for decades with no problem whatsoever," explained Mr Hart, "and even if flooding did threaten, the area could simply be sealed off for a couple of hours until the risk had passed."

"At present, the agency is needlessly thwarting Southern's** hopes of restoring the site as car park. With an all day London service returning to the line next month, this nonsense needs to be cleared up without further delay. What we must avoid at all costs is parking problems literally driving people off, while an ideal parking area just goes to waste."

Notes for editors

* From Monday 29 November.
** The local train operator.

ends....

22 November 2004