We want to preserve our rail heritage

A petition with 2,388 signatures was handed over by campaigners to the village's MP, Nick Herbert.

They hope the presentation will raise the profile of their campaign and persuade groups to provide funding.

The supporters want to transport the redundant signal box from its site on the western end of Barnham railway station's platform two to the Olivers Meadow site of Aldingbourne Sports and Social Club.

They need to raise thousands of pounds in the next three months to achieve that aim.

One of the campaign's organisers, Andy Ayling, said: "It's encouraging that so many people don't want to see the signal box demolished.

"It's the last signal box of its kind which is left.

"The signatures were all collected locally at Barnham Joinery, Barnham Post Office, Murrell Arms and Elm Tree Stores."

Mr Herbert said: "The signal box is part of our railway heritage and it's clear there is very strong local support to save it.

"We all want the railways to be modernised but it's nice to keep some historic parts for future generations so they can see the origins of the railway."

The signal box dates back to 1911 when the branch line to Bognor Regis was improved from a single to a double track.

The levers in the wooden structure had guided the movements of hundreds of trains a day for the next 97 years until mid-November.

It was then replaced by a brick-built signal box on the northern side of the railway lines as part of a 22m upgrade of the network around Barnham.

Signal box owner Network Rail has set March 21 and 22 as the date when the signalbox has to go.

It will be demolished unless the supporters can raise enough money to transport it intact the couple of miles along the B2233 and A29 to Olivers Meadow.

The National Rail Heritage group has pledged to fund 60 per cent of the rescue.

The initial cost was put at 32,400 but the campaigners are confident this will be greatly cut when the final details of the removal are known.

Fellow campaigner Mike Burton said: "Generations of local schoolchildren have visited the signal box and hundreds of thousands of passengers have seen it every year.

"I am confident we will raise the money we need. It would be very sad if it was to disappear, considering we have got a suitable site for it and an appropriate use with Bognor Regis Model Railway Club."

The last person to sign the petition was Rose Green railway enthusiast John Simmons (75) who happened to be at the presentation scene.

He said: "I've known the signal box since I moved to West Sussex in 1989. It's a marvellous signal box and I would be very sad to see it disappear.

"The railways have to move with the times but preserving it would be a good thing."

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