On Wednesday April 24, 2024 the Rye Partnership held their AGM at Tilling Green Community Centre (TGCC) and invited members to attend. Chairman Keith Glazier, with five other directors present, gave a report and went through the accounts, which were agreed by everyone. Rye Partnership (RP) is a non-profit company which was formed in 2003, with the purpose of supporting regeneration in Rye and the wider area. Currently, it operates from TGCC which is used as a commercial and community centre, with long term and casual hire available to local groups, private individuals and businesses.
For some time the TGCC was unable to attract any funding because the lease had so few years left but after a lot of work by the directors they have been granted a thirty years lease.
The members were shown a film from 2010 when the RP took over a boarded-up, dilapidated building. They have made major improvements, making it a versatile centre with a variety of rooms for hire by many different groups. Currently roughly 150 visitors per week make use of the centre, and there is the hope that numbers of events and projects will keep increasing.
It was reported that presently their priority is to create a dedicated safe space for a youth centre, with the children able to develop activities they would like to happen there. The plan for the green space next to TGCC, which so far has not yet been developed, may have possible housing in the future.
The other places RP is responsible for is the Rye Harbour shop, which has new leaseholders. The two flats above the shop will continue to be managed by the Partnership.
In Rock Channel, RP leases the very successful Rye Fish Market, including the Seafood Bar, open over the weekends in the summer and Bank Holidays. Rye Partnership plans to dismantle some of the dilapidated buildings near the river at Rock Channel and erect three houses and some small business units. Negotiations are ongoing between the Environment Agency, RP, East Sussex County Council and Chapman’s Fish, who source the majority of their fish locally and sustainably.
Keith Glazier reported that it was not yet decided if houses would be rented, sold or how they would be offered but the planning was agreed by Rother district council. The audience was told that RP wants all three properties to be running as sustainably as possible.
There were several questions from the floor regarding financing, directorships and the future of RP. The audience was assured anyone could apply to become a director, especially if their interests would enhance the group. RP see their main role going forward as promoting the Tilling Green space, offering the structure and framework of the building. Locals of the Tilling Green area especially are invited to share their project and club ideas to make greater use of all the facilities. For any further information please go to their website: www.ryepartnership.org
Image Credits: Rye News library , Heidi Foster .
May I suggest to Rye Partnership that it looks at installing one or two full-size snooker tables — or a snooker table and a pool table — in the Tilling Green Community Centre? This would provide an enjoyable activity for young and older people alike. After the conversion of the Granary Club to luxury flats and the current conversion of the social club on Market Street, Rye currently has NO snooker tables for public use. This is a very dispiriting state of affairs for all of us who enjoy the sport. People might be able to suggest another home in Rye for a snooker table or tables if TGCC is unavailable, but I feel the latter would be an ideal location.