Once upon a time in a land far, far away (Ashford in fact) a road sign appeared in the ’90s saying something like “Phase 1 of the Ashford-Honiton trunk road” – but it (the A2070) fades out when it gets to Brenzett on the Marsh side of Rye. Phase 2 onwards appear to have been forgotten.
A major road was supposed to stretch along the South Coast from Honiton in Devon to Ashford, by-passing all the major centres of population and taking heavy traffic to the Channel Ports without it needing to go up to and around London on the M25 – and there are some high standard lengths of the A27 bypassing Brighton and Chichester.
Bits were built, piecemeal, and bits are still being built (like the Bexhill Bypass). But Rye has been by-passed in this process and left to cope with the traffic, without a bypass of its own.
Various routes have been proposed swinging north and south of the town – and even straight through the middle along the line of the railway – but nothing has happened, apparently.
But it has in practice. More traffic, and bigger traffic (as our photos show), keeps coming through the ancient town, parked on what was an island site on the edge of the former cliffs before the rivers silted up, the marshlands got reclaimed, and the sea retreated.
And it comes from all directions, not just along the road from Hastings. Continental lorries with trailers taking shortcuts from the M25 around Sevenoaks end up on the B2089 from Udimore and get stuck trying to turn right into Cinque Ports Street from the Station Approach.
However the South Undercliff and Fishmarket Road (around the ancient hilltop centre of Rye) are only an “A” road by name (the A259) as a resident Vickie Nocera eloquently describes on our Opinion page.
And apparently neither our MP Amber Rudd nor the Highways Agency have done anything about her concerns.
However a bypass around Rye would either have to head North round the town, cutting through the ancient cliffs and the High Weald, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Or alternatively it would have to head South towards the sea affecting the natural environment and requiring another bridge across the Rother.
It might also spoil the view for some as another reader points out.
Our photos show very clearly, though, that the A259 route round the old town is not fit for purpose – either for the current traffic it carries, or the residents and pedestrians who have to put up with it – and both our MP and the Highways Department need to take a closer look.
Major expenditure required by national or local government always causes eyebrows to be raised, but a whole range of options were being considered in the late ’80s (nearly 30 years ago) and the problem has got steadily worse.
Photos: John Minter
As a resident of South Undercliff (I wrote to Rye News recently) I feel the issue of some relief for the residents of Rye who live on the A259 is now long overdue. The amount of traffic has increased steadily over the years, the weight of the heavy traffic has increased, the vibration from the traffic has increased and the surface of the road is constantly being compromised.
Perhaps it is time to call a meeting with councillors from Rother District Council, Highways England and MP Amber Rudd to acknowledge the problem and look for ways to alleviate the on going problems. Yes, it will cost money but unless the problem is addressed it is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident, either to property or residents.