MPs should unite to produce public transport strategy

The article itself was addressing the regeneration of Hastings. However, with excellent timing Network Rail on October 3 ensured that London was cut off from most of East Sussex, as if to illustrate how poorly Hastings and the coastal resorts are served by Southern and Southeastern railway companies.

The Bexhill Observer commented on the poor engineering planning by Network Rail and the railway companies.

On the October 9, the travel editor of The Independent wrote an article concerning the destruction of Hastings pier in which he said: “The problem for Hastings is that it is so jolly difficult to reach: trains take longer to get from central London to Hastings than to more celebrated tourist spots that are much further away.”

Given that these influential newspapers have recently addressed the poor transport links in the area, the question is what can be done?

The way forward may be for the members of the coalition government representing Bexhill, Eastbourne and Hastings, together with Norman Baker, MP for Lewes, who in the minister with responsibilities for transport, to come together to develop a transport strategy for the area.

This is an opportunity, which the local MPs for the area can do something to improve not only the transport services, but also regeneration of the area which will have long term economic benefits. Should they achieve this goal they will have our gratitude for many years to come.

If, however, they lack the political will to construct such a strategy which could be implemented during the life of this government for the regeneration of the area, then they do not deserve to be re-elected.

R E Doyle

Collington Rise, Bexhill-on-Sea