Strong case for a new railway station to serve Eastbourne

There has been a strong case for a station at Stone Cross since the 1980s and the renewed interest expressed by council leader David Tutt is welcome.

Yes, it would provide a high quality link for all members of the community and a sustainable alternative to the car.

And yes, current and future residents of Stone Cross and wider will enjoy greater accessibility to their needs – more so if train/bus connections were guaranteed and pedestrian/cycle access and storage were provided.

An estimated train journey time of under 10 minutes to the town centre would attract a shift from the car and reduce congestion –supporting carbon reduction goals and benefiting the beleaguered ‘high street’.

If Eastbourne, Polegate, Hailsham – the wider ‘travel to work area’ – want to really expand transport choice and challenge the current car dominated transport system then plans currently on paper need together to be urgently turned into measures on the ground.

The whole package includes:

• Uninterrupted attractive safe walking and cycling routes to schools, colleges, workplaces, shops, health care and leisure facilities

• Bus priority measures between Hailsham, Polegate, Willingdon and Eastbourne; and from the east between Langney, Harbour, Seaside and town centre

• Stone Cross station with a regular train service

• A 20mph default speed limit on residential streets and ‘low traffic neighbourhoods’ in the vicinity of schools

• Concessionary or free combined bus-rail tickets for 16+ young adults

• Other measures and incentives

A major justification for such an approach is to secure developments designed to minimise car use and generate far less traffic.

The opposite is too often the case.

That leaves more space for nature and creates higher quality living spaces.

All these would deliver benefits greater than the sum of their parts: to public health, local economies, everyone’s quality of life – and give a fighting chance of making a meaningful contribution to Eastbourne and Wealden’s zero carbon goals.

Collaboration is needed to meet the challenge of that other crisis – climate change: Eastbourne, Wealden, East Sussex councils, and Transport for the South East must very visibly all work together.