MP adds support for Rother Valley to KESR reconnection

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THE Rother Valley Railway welcomed local MP Huw Merriman to Robertsbridge station in August to hear about progress on its plans to link the line to the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

The Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle also officially opened the first building construction at Robertsbridge, in the form of new heritage washroom facilities.

MP Huw Merriman (third from right) cuts the ribbon to officially open the Rother Valley Railway’s new building at Robertsbridge. RVR

The building was funded by a substantial donation from Roy Seaborne, an RVR trustee, who died on November 13 last year, having seen the structure started but not completed.

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Roy was instrumental in starting the Bodiam to Robertsbridge Reconnection project with the purchase of the piece of land from just north of Robertsbridge Junction station to Northbridge Street.

The building is designed in the heritage style to mirror the Colonel Stephens station at Tenterden Town. The design involved several RVR’s volunteer professionals, who joined Mr Merriman to officially open the new building: planning and superstructure, Stephen Langer; substructure, Graham Bessant; roof structure, Derek Kent; and interior décor, Saira Ahmed.

The construction was carried out by Andrew Wood and his team of local artisans.

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Mr Merriman said: “I was keen to visit RVR over the summer for an update on their plans to connect to the Kent and East Sussex Railway and create a heritage railway line from the main line station at Robertsbridge all the way to Tenterden.

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