Station improvements a year away

That is the time Railtrack experts believe it will take to finalise plans and get them approved by Rother.

Work could then take nine months, Railtrack estates manager Alan Hobson has told Bexhill Forum.

With lead design and construction architect Ron Fletcher he had met with the forum's station working party before a recent public meeting.

Earlier Railtrack plans stalled because Rother objected to the platform canopies at the Grade Two Listed station being shortened, Mr Hobson said.

Railtrack's revised plans still call for the canopies to be shortened but only by one bay.

This is to create a "psychological gap" so that yobs are less likely to throw missiles from the footbridge. Ron Fletcher said Railtrack had already spent a considerable sum restoring the main station concourse, including the distinctive lantern roof.

It was now hoped to gain planning permission to use contemporary materials such as uPVC or powder-coated aluminium to replace rotted wooden window frames along the ramps to the platforms and for the "end screen" overlooking the tracks.

Use of opening pivoted windows would make it possible to undertake repairs without having to get access to the tracks.

The windows would be lockable, he told a questioner at the packed meeting. "We were asked by the MP recently to improve the station frontage, which is not totally attractive.

"The main element is the kiosk which abuts and protrudes through the station front.

"We propose to remove the kiosk and reinstate two arches to accord with the four-arch doors that it would have had originally."

Would the station have a lift for wheelchair users? a questioner asked.

It was not part of the design. The Disabled Act required reasonable steps to be taken to provide such facilities, said Mr Hobson.

The Strategic Rail Authority was in discussion with South Central to establish priorities.

Asked if it was planned to re-open the long-closed toilets and waiting rooms, Mr Hobson said: "South Central have been selected has the preferred bidder for a 20-year franchise.

"They will be considering toilets at a number of stations.

"I would expect this to be picked up as part of the franchise process."