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Uckfield-Lewes campaign plan

It is easy to fall into the trap of starting with a solution and then trying to make it fit. A successful campaign must start with the problem. Therefore our approach is to work with potential stakeholders and professional advisors.

There are new opportunities for this scheme because of the government change in how major transport funding is allocated locally; it now includes Local Enterprise Partnerships, with emphasis on regional economic growth and regeneration. There are also current local stimuli, for example plans for development of a transport hub in Uckfield and regeneration in Newhaven. This is a different context from London commuting/London centric schemes which have been the typical standpoint in the past . In summary, the regional context matters a lot more than it used to.

Railfuture have appointed Jonathan Roberts Consulting for the first step of engaging with key stakeholders to get their input as part of the process of obtaining stakeholder support. This early approach should ensure stakeholder buy-in when a new business case is prepared, rather than knowing the answer and wanting to sell it; and should encourage stakeholders to move from support to active promotion.

1. Understand the need

  • Understand the socio-economic factors of the area - ie where do people live and work, what do they do, and how well are they doing
  • Identify the gaps between what transport is available and what travel people need to make
  • Ensue that the solution will gel politically by engaging senior stakeholders to get their input, so that they are aware of the needs, will buy in to the solution rather than us having to sell it, and so will provide funding for the following stages of the plan
  • Build public and stakeholder recognition of this transport need
  • Form a Project Development Group to keep stakeholders informed and on board

2. Define the solution

  • Agree a scope which will capture sufficient benefits without being too ambitious
  • Identify solution options which can be delivered in a reasonable timescale within the known constraints, meeting the needs and fitting the plans of stakeholders
  • Propose a solution with a viable business case which will attract funding and capture the imagination of stakeholders

3. Get through the formal GRIP process for rail development

  • The steps above should have got us to GRIP2, Feasibility by 2014
  • Stakeholders promote the solution to obtain funding
  • GRIP3 Option selection: Finalise and commit to the solution by 2015
  • GRIP4 Single option development: Detailed planning and inclusion in CP6 plans by 2018
  • GRIP5 Detailed design by 2020
  • GRIP6-8 Construction and handover to operation by 2022
  • Line open
These stages are shown diagrammatically in our leaflet Bridge the Gap

Register your support for electrification and reopening Uckfield - Lewes here!


New approach to Uckfield | Success through incremental development | Need for Uckfield-Lewes | Solution for Uckfield-Lewes | Uckfield business case | Background to the Uckfield Lewes campaign

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