fund in 2021 having failed. The Preservation Society has expressed an interest in restoring and reopening the line between Uckfield and Lewes in the long-term future. In December 2008, following the rejection of the reopening proposal, a petition was presented to East Sussex County Council asking it to acquire the trackbed from the Lavender Line's northern boundary to the former site of Uckfield station (which had been relocated further north in the meantime), to lease back the section and to allow heritage services to be run over it. In April 2009, the council's Director of Transport and Environment recommended that the petition be refused on the basis that a heritage operation would prejudice the reopening of the line and the costs entailed would divert funding away from core Council services. The majority of the old station site in Uckfield has since been converted into a carpark though one of the platforms remains. Extension to the south is difficult due to the need to reopen the level crossing on Station Road (against ORR policy) while extension to the north would require the two bridges over the river Uck to be refurbished and would only be able to reach Uckfield bypass which blocks access to the station site in Uckfield. Any reinstatement as part of Network Rail would require a new, elevated, station in Uckfield to allow the bypass to be bridged. References External links Lavender Line website Wealden Line campaign website Review of railway on Qype Heritage railways in East Sussex Museums in East Sussex Railway museums in England