Change, but where’s the action?

On February 4, 2015, at its Annual General Meeting the Campaign for a Democratic Rye (CDR) decided to dissolve the Group after setting out various alternative options, having considered that it was unlikely to achieve its aspiration to bring greater autonomy to Rye through the creation of an Area Committee system.

That decision was largely due to the strong opposition it had faced from Rother District Council and Parish Councils who preferred the status quo. It was generally agreed that the CDR had to change. The status quo was no longer considered the right direction especially in the light of the changes that had come about with the Rye Neighbourhood Plan.

With members’ agreement the CDR Constitution was suspended and its officers resigned their posts along with the Chairman and, like a phoenix from the ashes, a new group was formed. Some 30 members and friends attended this last meeting. After much discussion to find a new name for the group (Friends of Rye was suggested) it was agreed that that it should be called the Campaign for Action in Rye (CFAiR).

At an inaugural meeting of CFAiR the Group was duly constituted. Although the Group was not to have a permanent Chairman it was agreed to have alternate Chairmen for each of their meetings. A Treasurer, Membership Secretary and a General Secretar were elected

Funds accumulated by the CDR were agreed to be transferred to the new account opened for CFAiR. The committee being represented by its membership, no election of a formal committee was thought necessary. Members would be invited to join the Group and attend its meetings.

Letters were agreed to be sent to all the retiring members of CDR with an application form to seek membership for the new group. Membership numbers of CFAiR are not known, but around half a dozen appear to attend the meetings from Minutes that we have received.

A very ambitious list of priorities (34 in number!) was agreed by CFAiR. Working groups were to be set up to take action with specific remits to fulfil, including reporting routinely to scrutinise all three local councils and seek to raise awareness of important issues, and how they were debated. The public still awaits news of progress it has made in the past year since little appears to have been publicised.

Looking back at the achievements of CDR in its last year up to dissolution of the Group, we believe that we can be very proud. The CDR led by its Chairman, Alan Bolden, lobbied the Rye Town Council in a letter to the Town Clerk to press for action in the following areas. All were successfully accomplished.

1. Landgate Arch. Pressure was put on Rother District Council by Rye Town Council to have an inspection of the Arch in view of its slow deterioration. That has been done and work is to be begin shortly to repair the Arch.
2. Lookouts All three of them (Hilder’s Cliff, Gun Gardens and the Watchbell) have been attended to following the pressure applied to RDC. Ever-taller and ever-thicker vegetation growing up unchecked from the slopes below was at last tackled, and an obvious structural weakness on one was given immediate attention.
3. Cemetery. The disgraceful state of the cemetery was brought to RTC’s attention where the grass had not been cut, and ever-thicker vegetation had not been removed. This was eventually actioned by Rother District Council, as well as our crowning glory – their complete acceptance and intended implementation of our comprehensive and full detailed plan to now prepare the “top field” for ongoing use.

These were the major achievements of the CDR and a proud moment on which to bow out.