Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
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Green light for station improvements at Newhaven
Plans are on track to provide a major facelift for Newhaven Town station, Norman Baker MP this week confirmed.
Under plans being progressed by the District and County councils, the neglected station would see a car park added close by, a drop-off facility for cars and taxis, and improvements to the station itself, including longer opening hours for the ticket office, and even the provision of a café. Consideration is also being given to improving the rail/bus interchange.
Norman has long campaigned for improvements to the station and this week welcomed the progress. The station, despite its present rundown state, is still used by over 550 passengers a day, and has seen usage increase since Norman persuaded the rail company to cut season ticket prices by around a third.
He said: “Newhaven deserves a proper railway station, with good access, adequate parking and a little café. Seaford and Lewes have that. Why can’t Newhaven?
“It was extremely stupid of the then British Rail Residuary Body to sell off what was then the station car park for, I think, a paltry £12,000 some years back, something I bitterly opposed at the time when I was the leader of Lewes District Council. We now have an opportunity to rectify that error. I also think the opportunity this scheme affords should be used to look at a possible long-stay car park north of the present station on derelict railway land.
“It is important, however, the good progress being made here is carried out within an overall framework for the future development both of the port and the other railway stations. Nothing, for example, must be done which would preclude an expansion of rail freight from the port, and the possible move of Transmanche across to what was the Sea Containers terminal needs to be factored in.”