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BML2 “Time for action is now” |
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Tuesday, 20 December 2011 09:36 |
-says Brighton MP Simon Kirby (Kemptown & Peacehaven) who met Rail Minister Theresa Villiers last week.
Simon Kirby has supported the project since his election. In June he wrote to Transport Minister and Lewes MP Norman Baker asking for a meeting with him. The Brighton MP said: “The re-opening of this line would achieve so many local goals. It would firstly ease pressure on the congested Brighton to London commuter line. It would boost tourism and visitor numbers to the area and it would bring more jobs and economic opportunity. I hope the Minister will see me, given his past support for this initiative, and we can work together in taking this matter forward.”
Unfortunately Simon Kirby was told the Government was not interested in supporting the project and that it was entirely up to the local authority (East Sussex County Council) to submit proposals. However, because the County Council now intends using the supposedly safeguarded trackbed for its own road-building ambitions, this seems somewhat cynical to say the least.
An undeterred Simon Kirby said he has regular discussions with both Brighton and Hove City Council and ESCC, adding “I will suggest to these bodies that serious consideration should be given to this matter. Opening the [Lewes-Uckfield] line would reduce congestion on the busy Brighton to London route and would bring extra capacity to bear on the rail network in our area.”
Now, following a “very constructive” meeting on 12 December at the Department for Transport with Theresa Villiers, Simon Kirby said “we also discussed how the initiative could fit in so well to the Brighton Main Line 2 Project” and has promised to continue pressing the matter with officials and ministers at every possible opportunity.
Subsequently, the Brighton MP has written to Lord Steve Bassam of Brighton, who is well-known as a keen supporter of BML2, suggesting a bi-partisan approach to raising the whole profile of BML2 within political realms. He said: "I was interested in Lord Bassam’s tweet and it occurred to me that a bi-partisan approach to this issue might have a great deal of impact. The re-opening of the line has been discussed for many years but little or no progress has been made. Interest in the project remains very high though and I pay tribute to those who have kept this issue alive. The time for action is now."
So successful has the new £100m Amex Stadium at Falmer for Brighton & Hove Albion been that another 8,000 seats are to be provided. The Albion says it will “fund an independent travel survey for a 30,000-seater stadium, which would look at how to get fans to and from the ground”. This would include sustainable transport options in the current disagreement about how and where parking for 1,000 cars might be provided.
BML2 Project Manager Brian Hart said afterwards: “Only BML2 can deliver direct train services between London and Falmer. This is just one of many advantageous reasons why Brighton needs this superior and sustainable transport link to the capital.”
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