This area has featured quite a lot in the media in the past week, ranging from motorist mayhem in Camber in the Daily Mail (shown above) to BBC South East featuring both Camber’s problems and Rye Harbour’s concerns over “round the clock” activity on a local industrial site to Meridian last night (Wednesday) focussing on Pontins in Camber and poor cleaning standards in their chalets.
But “impromptu parties” on the beaches got most attention, particularly on social media – though coachloads from Croydon arriving at Greatstone-on-Sea could hardly be called an impromptu party – and locals were not impressed by the amount of rubbish left behind.
Camber heaved a sigh of relief though as the party was first announced to take place on Camber Sands and was banned, so it moved to Greatstone; and another planned for this weekend at Camber has apparently been jumped on from a very great height by Sussex Police and Rother District Council with threats of large fines and equipment being confiscated.
Camber’s problems are greater than the odd party though, and a local Action Group has been formed to cope with the parking issues, also highlighted in the Daily Mail.
Another issue also reported by the BBC, which may run and run, is a planning proposal for 24 hour working at Rye Harbour on an industrial site, and a public meeting was held to complain about the existing noise and dust from the site.
The company has responded to the complaints saying it has acted already to address the issues.
Meanwhile holidaymakers continue to arrive in large numbers as travelling abroad becomes more complex, and some but not all attractions are open and flourishing.
In Rye the castle, St Mary’s Tower and Lamb House are still shut, though the Ypres Garden sounded appealing, just down the road (or rather the railway line) from Greatstone, I was able to watch one of Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch’s little steam trains chug by with passengers as I sat in the Pilot’s large garden in Dungeness with a one way system of ordering and a “buzzer” which alerted me to when my whitebait was ready.
But getting through Camber to Lydd and then on to Dungeness was awful. Cars everywhere in Camber and past Jurys Gap still.
Image Credits: Daily Mail , Kevin McCarthy , Long Rake Spar .
As a cyclist I frequently visit Lydd but use the lanes from Appledore and avoid Camber and the main roads. The only traffic I see besides other cyclists are the odd tractor and car. Main roads can be avoided if you know your way over Romney Marsh and so very pleasant.
The lanes are lovely, Granville Bantick, and many of us enjoy the pleasure of exercise and the peace of the countryside by cycling along them. I guess you’re not suggesting a flood of cars and lorries should use them, though, are you? They’re completely unsuitable for that!