New talks on station revamp

The meeting was a last-ditch attempt to see what the budget-conscious rail company could offer in terms of a revamp.

Last month Network Rail told Rother money was not available for the estimated 1.5million work on the grade II Listed station.

The company did not want to end up in the financial position of its predecessor, Railtrack, it said in a letter to Rother leader Graham Gubby, who had pushed for the work along with MP Gregory Barker.

Network Rail will now draw up a list of targets it feels it can reach within budget, before Rother decides whether to serve the enforcement notice approved by planners last month.

Rother chief planning officer Frank Rallings said: "They are going to submit, in writing, what works they can do and their timescale.

"We will have to see whether that matches or doesn't match our requirements, as set out in the report to Rother Planning Committee."

The report stated the minimum work required to bring the station into a fit state for commuters was:

*replacing missing glazing bars on station ramps and reglazing,

*cleaning down and painting all wood work including the ceiling to the platform ramps and canopies,

*cleaning down and painting all cast iron brackets and canopy columns,

*steam cleaning platform brickwork

*cleaning and painting the north-side fence of Devonshire Square

*removing all weeds.

The enforcement would not equal the planned refurbishment but it would bring the station up to a standard not seen for years.

Mr Rallings said: "If it (the list from Network Rail) doesn't meet our requirements we will have to put it in front of committee and let them decide whether we should enforce the notice.

"Network Rail knows a notice has been authorised, it is just normal practice to talk about it first and see whether and agreement can be met on the work."