New station plan adds passenger lifts

Rother had been concerned last year that reducing the canopy lengths would put passengers at risk from vandals on the footbridge.

Railtrack says the extreme ends of the platform are rarely visited by passengers and that being able to see any danger from above would reduce the risk rather than increase it.

Shortening the canopies would reduce the amount of litter thrown on to them.

Railtrack is now proposing that the vandal-prone glass canopies should end 7.5m - beyond a stone's throw - from the footbridge.

Alan Hobson, estates manager for Railtrack South, said: "Following refusal of Listed Building Consent last year, we have re-considered our proposal and consulted widely with interested parties and have made a comprehensive Listed Building Consent application.

"This will enable the full restoration of the station. We hope we have managed to address the issues raised both previously and during consultation."

Railtrack architect Ron Fletcher's plans accompanying the application include sketches showing how wooden window frames along the ramps and the station end screen could be replaced.

These would follow the existing style but be in powder-coated aluminium. The pivoted design would allow broken glass to be replaced easily. At present, scaffolding is required.

A passenger lift could be incorporated by the top of each ramp.

A Railtrack spokesman said: "This was one of the issues raised during the consultation. Though it was not part of our original proposal which was very much around restoring a structure of very considerable heritage value, our plans were all about our responsibility for that.

"An enhancement project such as lifts is normally something that the Strategic Rail Authority and the South Central train company would be pursuing. Having said that we undertook to investigate how lifts might be accommodated. It is not something that we would fund because it is not within the parameters for which we are funded by the Rail Regulator. We would be the facilitator in terms of design and implementation.

"If that funding could be put in place we would be very happy to do that at the same time."

If installed, the lifts would be a roll on-roll off "through" lift design.

Town MP Gregory Barker said: "Bexhill station is in a shocking state. It is a disgrace to the town. So I am very glad to see that Railtrack has responded positively to my suggested improvements following my meeting with senior railway managers in April.

"Rother planning committee clearly has properly to scrutinise this application but I very much hope that work will be able to begin soon."

Bexhill station was granted Grade II Listed status by English Heritage after an application by Bexhill Museum Association. Chairman Megan Traice said: "We welcome this. But the Listing was given because of the canopies and they want to cut them back. The reason they have given is because of the danger from the footbridge. Our reaction to that is 'Why not cover the footbridge?'

"The proposed use of new materials does not bother us that much. I don't think we are unhappy about it. We just want this refurbishment to be done."

Town Forum chairman Stuart Wood said: "Making use of modern materials in keeping with the style of Listed buildings makes better use of them than leaving them to deteriorate because of high maintenance costs.

"If we did not follow this policy throughout Bexhill we would not improve the seafront or have new planters for Bexhill In Bloom or better lighting.

"More encouragement to use the station would possibly warrant more higher staffing levels - thus waiting rooms and toilets would be available for more hours in the day, along with a cleaner station.

"We need someone with enterprise to encourage steam trains to come to Bexhill for the Bexhill 100 event. Why not the original Orient Express with a visit to the 1066 countryside. This would make good use of the long platforms.

"This plan is a step in the right direction to improve the station and a special thank you should be made to the working party who have worked so hard."