ERTA calls for all planning decisions to adopt a policy of protecting former rail routes and keeping options open for potential benefits. This applies especially to 2 schemes we support and may well apply elsewhere, like Brighton Main Line Mark 2 https://www.bml2.co.uk/ but our focus is on Guildford-Horsham-Shoreham with a link to the direct existing Horsham-South Coast Rail link as well for the full monty of potential and use for passenger and freight to be realised. See attached flyer for more information and please do encourage supporters to join our on-line meeting: Guildford and South East Area Meeting(Zoom) Hosted by Mr Iain Sear iainsear22@hotmail.com – July 5th 14.00 hrs See: https://ertarail.co.uk/events/ Horsham physical meeting is postponed due to extended Covid restrictions limiting to just 6 people, when last time we had 20!
But another link, less the 2 miles long if that, but which could make a critical difference is that of the former Polegate-Stone Cross direct rail link avoiding Eastbourne. The benefits would be as follows:
a. more scope for more by rail - people and goods.
b. end to end time savings between Brighton-Bexhill-Hastings-Ashford with wider connections.
c. It would enable more capacity into Eastbourne with a focus more on marketing the resort via more London-Gatwick-Resort trains.
d. bring all-year-round footfall and spend sustaining/regenerative benefits.
Thus we appeal to respective councils to come together and push/demand this rail link be restored. Realignments where blockages exist need studying. But planning decisions should identify a route and protect that open land from development. If you build a development and even get a new station on existing lines, you lock-in by destruction, that direct relief line option and lock-in time delay end to end and throw away benefits/options which may otherwise be enjoyed, sustaining employment and prosperity/spend-ability.
Please can councils work together. Talk to each other and we call on umbrella agencies to identify these two projects Guildford-Shoreham and Stone Cross-Polegate as urgent for route protection, round-tabling by interested tiers of Government and seeking funding for studies to make more of the case on a formal setting and quasi scientific basis, which ERTA does not possess per se.
We appeal to you to step in at this 11th hour and realise wider regional benefits - Ashford-Brighton (Kent - West Sussex reaches), Guildford-Shoreham (South London/Heathrow Links/Reading - Gatwick from the South, Brighton, Chichester and Portsmouth as well as another link to Southampton from the north. We must not allow blockages to these rail options, locking in road competitiveness, congestion, fossil fuel wastage. Electric cars/vehicles only take us so far, only rail alternatives deliver on bulk carriages per volume and offer traffic reduction, the reduction of tyre particulate pollution we passively breathe and associated respiratory effects. Please work together and let's get a better strategic appreciation, balance and nurture with some determination a better rail deal for the South East and beyond. Thank you.
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