A suggestion by Rother District Council (RDC) that Rye’s public toilets could be “commercialised” by renting them as retail facilities was branded ridiculous at Rye Town Council’s meeting on Monday December 9.
Crazy. Cloud cuckooland. Appalling. It cannot be serious. Those were just some of the comments made by councillors after what was seen as an impractical idea was put forward.
RDC is asking for £9,500 annual rent for the Lucknow Place car park toilets – plus 5% of any turnover. It’s £6,000 rent each year plus 5% of turnover for the toilets in the Gun Garden and £5,000 plus 5% on the Strand. The toilets are currently advertised by Dyer and Hobbs as “former toilet blocks.”
This is in the context of a very real risk that Rye will lose the allocated levelling up funding facilitated by Rye Chamber of Commerce and designed to improve the facilities. Any funding not used or committed during the financial year of the grant is automatically returned to central government. Councillors agreed to register an interest in the toilets’ freeholds / leases, while escalating to the highest level in RDC the requirement for a legal agreement to be reached with Rother so that the available money can be allocated before the end of March 2025.
Financial concerns also dominated in the updates from the representatives from Rother District Council and East Sussex County Council (ESCC). Councillor Creaser from RDC expressed concern on the homelessness challenges in Rye and Rother, and upcoming difficulties in planning as pressure rises for additional housing.
East Sussex faces multiple challenges in its next financial year. While potholes tend to capture public interest and anger, the effects of an ageing population and rising social care needs consume over 80% of the available budget, which has yet to be balanced. While final central government allocations are not yet known this is driving hard discussions, possibly involving the closure of essential services such as day centres.
Keith Glazier the leader of ESCC told the meeting the council had a budget of over a billion pounds. “We find out our funding settlement from government in December and have to have our budget sorted in January. You couldn’t run a business like this.”
Also at the town hall, it was unanimously recommended that Rye Rugby Club be given a 25-year lease extension for the Freda Graham playing field. This certainty of tenure will allow the Club to apply for other funding support to improve their facilities. Councillors commended their excellent work in supporting sport access and coaching to people of all ages.
The new management of the allotments in Rye continues to operate effectively and councillors voted to support additional financial and administrative arrangements to continue this process.
Councillor Hansen updated the Council on the development of the leisure centre continues. While there remains a lot to do, the generosity of donors is helping to secure the required financial basis for the long-term success of the pool. The recent budget decisions have increased the requirement for funding so fundraising will continue. In the meantime the process of appointing a professional management team is underway ready to take over in April 2025. The new manager, Daniel Lynn, has already been recruited and will start in February. In another concrete demonstration of progress, the installation of solar panels on the building has already started.
Finally, councillors unanimously approved the appointment of Andy Stuart as mayor elect for 2025 / 26. Thanks were also expressed to Sophie Thorpe for Christmas in Rye, along with all the town’s volunteers who have worked hard to ensure a real festive atmosphere in Rye this Christmas.
Image Credits: Peter Connock , James Stewart , Rye RFC , Kt bruce .
A very big thank you to the whole team responsible for the Christmas lights. They look fab. Well done everyone involved.
I love Rye so much. I can’t understand how it can function as a tourist destination if there are zero public toilets. Families, middle-aged women like me – who can plan a day out if there are no facilities? I’d rather see a fee to use toilets. Though I imagine ‘spending a penny’ will probably be a pound these days!
Even if a pound is charged (as elsewhere), people who need access would gladly pay, and Rother would probably get more income than proposed….
Towns without toilets lose business. Rother District Council would be shooting themselves in both feet if closing public toilets in Rye leads to business closures and zero rates income instead. Think again, find a better way. Tenterden manages, why not Rye?
With all the coachloads of elderly people visiting Rye throughout the year Public lavatories are ESSENTIAL. Whatever the charge, folk who are ‘desperate’ will gladly pay.( I know because I am one of them !!)
I agree, Linda. It could also result in people deciding to stay at home if they know that there are no public loos available (a “Loo Leash”) and perhaps becoming more isolated because of this. The library and Kino are very accommodating in this regard, but it seems unfair to expect them to provide this service freely.
Whoever thought of closing down toilets in Rye wants to get in the real world , people need to relieve themselves young and especially older folk,what is this country coming to!!