On 11 Jan 2012 at 6:45pm railman wrote:
Why don't they tarmac the old railway line and run a dedicated coach along it? Footbridge at Uckfield to link with the train. Much cheaper than relaying track.
On 11 Jan 2012 at 6:56pm padster wrote:
I could be wrong about this , but that would make it a road.......call me old fashioned but trains really should run on tracks.
On 11 Jan 2012 at 8:17pm trickcyclist wrote:
Turn it into a cycle track please. Put a simple wooden bridge over the Ouse and we can get to Uckfield and all the villages in between without being squashed by clarksons.
On 11 Jan 2012 at 9:38pm Vampire Buffet Slayer wrote:
Trickcyclist,that is the best suggestion EVER posted on here!
On 12 Jan 2012 at 12:50am Fairmeadow wrote:
Might have to swim the Ouse a couple of times each trip.
On 12 Jan 2012 at 7:30am Deelite wrote:
Cycle track is a great idea. Cycling the track when the river is in flood would be particularly attractive. Swimming the Ouse is not a great idea.
38 sewage treatments drain into the river. Then in summer there's the ecoli infested cow poo!
On 12 Jan 2012 at 9:21am DFL wrote:
Trickcyclist, that's BRILLIANT !!
On 12 Jan 2012 at 9:22am DFL wrote:
P.S. Trickcyclist, will you run for Parliament please.
On 12 Jan 2012 at 9:27am Deelite wrote:
Am I right to think that at least some of the land the railway was built on has been sold off? The stretch between Anchor Lane, Barcombe and the bridge is being used as a wood yard and as I understand it is privately owned.
On 12 Jan 2012 at 12:54pm Brixtonbelle wrote:
Can we just have a cycle track all along the ouse to the coast ? would be much much safer than cycling the roads and would link into south downs way too. What a lovely way to spend a day - cycling to seaford/newhaven and back and great for kids too.
On 12 Jan 2012 at 1:49pm Clifford wrote:
Yes Brixtonbelle, I wonder what twerp it was who suggested it would be a good idea to put barbed wire across parts of what could easily be a decent cycle track to Newhaven?
On 12 Jan 2012 at 7:58pm Cyclist wrote:
Great idea, Trickcyclist as long as it is maintained. Went down the so called cycle path to the Uni the other day. The path is so bad with the surface lifting due to tree roots etc. I might have been safer on the A27. I also worry about the idea of trying to keep cyclists off the roads. Whilst I love the idea of travelling on car free tracks I also need to use the roads and don't want to be told I have to take a longer route on a cycle track, especially if the track is poorly maintained.
On 12 Jan 2012 at 11:33pm ADT wrote:
I cycled to Newhaven along the river once. Never again. Had to lift the bleeding thing over the wooden gate things about 25 times. Pain in the proverbials.
On 12 Jan 2012 at 11:39pm trickcyclist wrote:
I have cycled down to Southease on my mountain bike a few times,you do have to carry over a few stiles but it is ok.
I agree that mandatory cycle tracks are a bad idea,I was stopped a few times in Holland for riding on the road. The Dutch have some great cycle paths that go through the countryside on totally different routes to the cars.
And thank you DFL however you are!
On 13 Jan 2012 at 8:08am Matt Kent wrote:
Taking the aims of say Cycling Embassy of Great Britain (Google it), is agrees exactly with TrickCyclist above. The Dutch have exemplar cycling schemes for inclusive cycling, and from speaking to main spokesperson recently (Jim Davis) the cyclists in the Netherlands don't brand themselves as 'cyclists', they just cycle whenever and feel safe. Do contact Jim if you have any further ideas about improving cycling in Lewes and beyond. I have his contact details if you need them.
Regarding the rail alignment, It has been safeguarded by all levels of local authority, and severe concern should be focused on ESCC potentially building over it in Uckfield as part of a potential traffic management plan. (I doubt that people own parts of the alignment). From sitting in a Rail Parishes meeting this week we discussed with Southern that trains from Uckfield terminus are packed to capacity, and hopefully electrification and a dual trackbed and bigger trains will ease major capacity issues there.
From the recent Balcombe Tunnel and Croydon Landslide many people have realised how fragile the South East Rail Network is and we should work hard to convince the DfT and Norman Baker to part with the cash and build the link between Lewes and Uckfield at the least and BML2 at the best. Businesses, Councils, and the Industry should make a collective effort to improve transport links in the region. Many people still believe the alignment should be kept for trains.
Improving the national bike and coastal network however would be a start, and locally, the link to Ringmer, for example is incomplete and needs finishing (Some people felt it was poorly designed or constructed).
On 13 Jan 2012 at 10:17am Peasant wrote:
The Ringmer neighbourhood plan being developed envisages a footpath/cycleway/bridle path along the Ouse from Malling to Barcombe Mills.
On 14 Jan 2012 at 6:04am Deelite wrote:
The land bordering the Ouse from Barcombe Mills towards Lewes is private and no public footpath exists. Personally I hope it stays that way. One of the few original un-modified wild parts of the river exists in this stretch and for the sake of its beauty, solitude and wildlife I hope it never becomes a thoroughfare for any type of vehicle, including cycles and boats.
On 14 Jan 2012 at 9:57pm Peasant wrote:
There are things called licensed footpaths. Quite a lot in the countryside around Lewes.
Your view did have some support at the Ringmer Neighbourhood Plan meetings. But less than 10% of those expressing a view.
On 15 Jan 2012 at 6:42pm Deelite wrote:
I'd have thought that the river directly south of the Mills was within the parish of Barcombe. In fact, is any of the river within the boundary of Ringmer? If not (and I don't know) why is the cycle track being considered as part of the Ringmer plan?