To coincide with the opening of the new Marks and Spencers store at Ravenside (Glyne Gap) on the 28th November, Campaign for Better Transport – East Sussex, and the Hastings Alliance, held a demonstration to publicise the absence of a railway station to serve not just the new store, but Ravenside itself. A banner proclaimed ‘Why No Station?’
Many in the queue waiting to get into the new store echoed our call for a new station: one recalled the old station that was there before Ravenside was developed!
See the press release, photos, and also the Bexhill Observer’s coverage. Here:
Some of the 20 Demonstrators
Glyne station ‘key role’ for area say campaigners (video link)
Given the huge growth in numbers of people travelling by train UK wide, and the success of station and line re-openings way in excess of expectations in other parts of the UK, it is very disappointing that East Sussex has seen none of this renaissance. The current intention to delete references to a new Glyne Gap station from strategic planning documents both at Rother District and at county council level places an extra barrier in the way of a future station should a case for it become stronger – and it will. This deletion is at best incautious; at worst reckless. We urge Councillor Carl Maynard, with his transport responsibilities in both authorities, to think again.
The recent £30,000 study into a new station had its flaws: assuming one train per hour was never going to result in a massive take-up, and the error of forgetting that new signalling might well permit more trains to call at the station was serious. Meanwhile, congestion will grow back faster on Bexhill Road, even with the Link Road.
Had a station (current cost: £4m) been provided 30 years ago when Ravenside was developed, we might have seen growth in sustainable transport and land development in Bexhill and Hastings instead of the real prospect of car dependent developments propelled by the very costly Link Road (current cost: £113.6m).
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IMAGES OF THE RECENT FLOODS:
To many it seemed that the floods were the elements’ fightback against the vandalism currently afflicting the valleys. 
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WARNING!
MORE CONCRETE? TARMAC? DESTRUCTION?
We hope not, but check the Combe Haven Defenders’ alert through this link:
http://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/sea-change-flee-questions-at-link-road-exhibition/
http://combehavendefenders.wordpress.com/2013/11/27/2944/
Transport Futures East Sussex/Campaign for Better Transport / Hastings Alliance 
I hate to think what the valley looks like now, after all the recent rain. Should be interesting to see how nature reacts to being messed about with!
Absolutely fatuous that someone somewhere has decided there is no case for a station at Ravenside. To base it all on the daft notion of one train an hour was always going to result in that conclusion – a minimum half hourly if not 20 minute interval service would be warranted – and feasible once the resignalling in that area allows more trains to run.
If Ravenside was “north of Watford”, an enlightened transport authority would’ve insisted on a basic station as being part of the complex – all the more so given the railway line is yards away.
Ludicrous.