Representatives of the Uckfield Town Steering Group met with Simon Burns, the Minister of State for Transport, on Thursday last week to discuss the way forward for a new station car park in Uckfield.

The representatives included members of county, district and town councils supported by Charles Hendry MP.

The Transport Minister welcomed the plans for a new car park and said he would support the transfer of land from current owners, the British Rail Board Residuary, to Network Rail at “open market value” and at the earliest opportunity.

Such support builds on proposals for increasing the car parking provision within the town and which have been developed and supported by the Steering Group following widespread public consultation carried out earlier this year. This proposal is part of a package of measures now agreed by Councillor Carl Maynard, lead member for Transport and Environment at East Sussex County Council, last week.

Mick Harker, Chairman of the Uckfield Town Steering Group, said: “I am pleased that we now have the support of the Transport Minister in this matter. The lack of station car parking has long been a local issue but we feel that Network Rail are best placed to now resolve the problem with the support of local partners. We understand that they would be in a position to purchase the land and discussions have already taken place with regard to them applying for planning permission and building the car park.

“We will be happy to support them in preparing the business case and in future negotiations to make this happen.”