Parking chaos warning

UCKFIELD could be swamped with rail travellers when new diesel trains are introduced on the line next year - and it is vital that extra parking is provided.

This is the view of Brian Hart, director of the Wealden Line Campaign, who has welcomed acknowledgement of the potential problem in the first draft of the Local Plan drawn up by Wealden Council.

Mr Hart says that there are currently only 13 parking spaces at Uckfield station but the town should expect an influx of new passengers from surrounding villages and even Lewes. Uckfield commuters who currently drive to Haywards Heath will probably be attracted by the new service, he claims.

Mr Hart says season tickets from Uckfield will be cheaper than from Lewes and free parking would be a great attraction once the new faster, more reliable diesels are introduced.

'The line could potentially be more reliable than the Brighton line which carries far more traffic, suffers many delays and overcrowded trains. Passengers would be more likely to get a seat on this line. All these factors add up,' said Mr Hart.

There was already a parking problem in Uckfield he added with some of the town's commuters heading to Buxted where there is parking for 75 cars.

'When the new trains come in there is probably going to be chaos. They will be parking in Mill Drove, Framfield Road and Forge Rise and it worries me that no-one has actually focussed on this problem yet,' said Mr Hart.

Cllr Duncan Bennett, who represents Uckfield Town Council on the Wealden Line Steering Group agreed that improvements to the rail service would need to be backed by better parking and, in the longer run, a new station.