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Wednesday 8 Jan 2014

Uckfield investment to provide passengers with new car park

Region & Route:

| Southern

A new commuter car park which will provide an additional 150 parking spaces in Uckfield has been proposed by Network Rail.

The new £1m facility will be built on the site of the old station building, opposite the current station on the High Street. It will provide convenient parking for commuters next to the railway station, and make available more space available in the town centre car parks for visitors and shoppers.

Network Rail has been working closely with Wealden District Council, East Sussex County Council and Uckfield Town Council to improve the parking availability in Uckfield, and purchased the land to be used in August 2013.

Tim Robinson, Network Rail's route managing director for Sussex, said: “There is an increasing demand for parking spaces at Uckfield station as a result of the growing number of passengers travelling by train. We were able to purchase land opposite the station and propose to build this new car park which will provide much-needed spaces and benefit shoppers and visitors. A planning application will be submitted to Wealden District Council shortly and, if granted, we hope to open the car park in summer 2014.”

Charles Hendry MP, said: “I am delighted that Network Rail has made such good progress with plans for this new station car park. It is becoming even more essential that Uckfield has its own separate station car park for commuters. As development continues in and around the town, and demand for more homes continues, this line will continue to face increasing demand from those commuting to work. It will bring real benefits to local businesses as people visiting the town will find it easier to find a place to park. It is a great New Year’s present for the people of Uckfield. It also shows what can be done when Network Rail, all the local political representatives and the business community work together to achieve such a positive result.”