Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to issue a Safeguarding Direction to protect the full width of the original track bed of the former Lewes to Uckfield rail line to facilitate its future use; and whether they will give further consideration to re-examining the potential value of the former Lewes to Uckfield rail line.

The case to build or restore railway services over this alignment should first be assessed and supported by the local transport authority, who should relate the proposal to growth, jobs and homes in the area. As part of that assessment, whether the previous route is available for reuse and to what extent should be assessed at a high level. The local transport authority can then take a view about the practicability of using the route. My Department would only safeguard the route if there was a reasonable long-term prospect of the scheme having a business case and being funded.