Plans for a new station to be built on outskirts of Eastbourne

Stone Cross is already growing with housing development which has caused people – including the leader of Eastbourne Borough Council David Tutt – to question when the services and public transport links will catch up with the increasing population.

Mr Tutt said there are plans to improve rail connection in the south east including better routes and faster journeys.

Although these plans will take years to accumulate, he says he feels very positive about them.

He said, “One issue that I am pressing for as part of this work is the inclusion of a new station at Stone Cross.

“This is not a new idea, indeed along with my colleague Alan Shuttleworth, we have been campaigning for this for decades as it would serve much of the eastern end of Eastbourne and help ease congestion of cars travelling to the town centre.”

Mr Tutt said that until now the rail authorities haven’t agreed to Stone Cross railway station plans but thinks that should change.

He said, “The size of the population in that area has however grown considerably with the estates which have already been built on the Wealden side of the line and so with a bit of a push, maybe the time for the rail companies to take this seriously has finally arrived.

“The reason that I believe that this is the right time for this to be explored again is that there are currently plans being drawn up for new services between St Pancras and Eastbourne via Ashford International, Rye, Hastings and Bexhill - Stone Cross is of course on this route.

“The last time that there was a study, many of the houses in the area did not exist and so the numbers now justify a station. There are several stops on this route which serve much smaller communities.”

Mr Tutt said a railway station at Stone Cross would encourage people to leave their cars at home - something which is obviously good for the environment too.

He said, “There are also the targets for the reduction in carbon emissions which such a project would assist. So I think that there is now a chance.”