Chris Grayling & Transport 2000 have joined forces to highlight this issue (link below.)
http://www.transport2000.org.uk/news/maintainNewsArticles.asp?NewsArticleID=375

Stephen Joseph , Director of Transport 2000 said: “Rail use by passengers and for freight is having a real renaissance, traffic on the railways is at its highest level since the 1950s and still rising. Re-openings will be needed to serve the many new and planned developments and also to provide better regional links. This is about giving people real choice for more journeys, and tackling congestion and pollution. But many of these lines are under threat from development; for years we have been saying they should be firmly protected through the planning system, and we support the Conservatives’ call for a moratorium on development and a review of their potential.”

He added: “The Government will be issuing a rail strategy this summer; we hope that protecting disused lines can be included in that strategy. This should be a non-party issue and we hope the Government will agree to the Conservatives’ request and protect lines for future use.”

On a similiar note , I think that Swanbourne station was an excellent choice of location for the joint Conservative / Transport 2000 announcement. See link below.
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=640.msg1928#msg1928

The Conservatives want a two-year moratorium on sales , and an inquiry into which lines should be protected for long-term rail needs as towns and cities expand (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6596393.stm