Transition Town Lewes believes that good public transport with good local connections is essential if we are to reduce our carbon emissions. We can all resolve to use existing services more so that no-one can say that are not used and therefore not needed, but there are also a number of local resources and campaigns that TTL supporters can link to.

Consultation process; GTR Southern restructuring of timetable
GTR Southern is consulting on a major restructuring of the timetable for off-peak services, effective from December 2015. Despite time savings from the reconfiguration of services and more efficient signalling, there is no proposal to increase off-peak services from Cooksbridge. This makes no sense on environmental, logistic, social and economic grounds. There are planned cuts to the bus service which is likely to increase the use of cars for those who drive. The environmental consequences are evident. An hourly train service could prevent that. For the elderly and other non- drivers, including young people, the train might be their only option. One of Southern’s arguments is that they are not convinced of the potential demand, yet new dwellings next to the station are planned and there is a potential for young people to use the train services to Lewes, Brighton and Eastbourne for schools, to shop or for leisure. In addition there are many more people now wishing to visit the National Park. There is a network of paths leading directly from Cooksbridge station up onto the South Downs.

Please respond to the consultation. Responses need to be in by 30th January. These can be emailed to gtr.timetableconsultation@gtrailway.com or posted to: GTR Dec 2015 Consultation, FREEPOST LON 15973, Croydon, CR0 1ZY

Local bus services are also threatened. You can find all the latest information and actions at https://lewesstopthecuts.wordpress.com/

For more information about all local travel related matters you can subscribe to the excellent newsletter Travel Log Lewes – visit www.travelloglewes.co.uk and sign up using the form on the home page.

Or maybe you think all these issues are sufficiently important that it is time to revive the TTL travel group. If this is something for you get in touch with Susan Murray – susan2.murray@talktalk.net – and she will bring interested people together.