A new station could ruin plans to reopen a stretch of railway line, a campaigner has warned.

Brian Hart, director of the Wealden Line Campaign, believes a platform earmarked for land at Groombridge, near Crowborough, may make it harder to restore the Lewes to Uckfield and Tunbridge Wells link.

He said: "There have been many objections to the planned concrete and steel platform on environmental grounds.

"Our concern is the new platform will block off half the track-bed and become yet another obstacle to this route as part of a restored Tunbridge Wells-Uckfield-Lewes link. Double track will be needed here to offer a decent service and this platform would make that impossible."

The proposal has been put forward by the Spa Valley Railway group, which also hopes to include a picnic area near the planned station.

The Wealden Line Campaign group was involved in a similar planning battle in January when it tried to block moves to build a mobile phone mast in Tunbridge Wells.

Mr Hart said: "We were successful on that occasion because planners realised this sort of development would wreck the route for the future.

"This latest plan threatens to make a farce of the district council's policy, which was expressly designed to prevent the route being degraded in this way."

The group has lobbied for almost 20 years for two stretches of line between Lewes and Uckfield and Crowborough and Tunbridge Wells to be reopened.

The station plan has been recommended for approval by planning officers at Wealden District Council.

It was due to be discussed by the development control sub-committee today.

Thursday June 5, 2003