One of the knotty problems councillors had to tackle at this week’s meeting of Rye Town Council was the question of the proposed development of the old Lower School site in Ferry Road. Once planned as a location for a new supermarket – a plan that disintegrated with the withdrawal of the two competing supermarkets, Sainsbury and Tesco – the current plan, already reported in Rye News – is to re-develop the site with a total of 72 houses and flats and 91 car parking spaces.
Before discussion by the Council, members of the public had the opportunity to put their views and there was considerable concerns expressed by residents of nearby Tillingham Avenue. Overflow car parking into neighbouring roads, strain on local services (particularly the school and Ferry Road’s GP surgery), proximity to the railway level crossing, and increased traffic on already-crowded local roads were all points put forward, accompanied by well-researched facts and figures.
The Vice-Chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, Anthony Kimber referred to the plans as attempting to put a quart into a pint pot (a maximum of 50 dwellings had been suggested at one time by the steering group). Other councillors agreed and the Deputy Mayor remembered that there had once been talk of new premises for Rye College being built on the site and should this plan re-surface – in which case he felt that there would be no need for any vehicles on site, although school staff might feel differently – it should be supported by the Council.
Former mayor, Cllr. John Breeds also voiced his opposition as did Planning Committee chairman Cllr. Erswell, who proposed that the scheme should be rejected on the grounds of over-development. This was seconded by another former mayor, Cllr Kirkham, and the motion to reject the application was carried unanimously.
The next move of the developers is not yet known. Will a development with fewer dwellings (30% of which must be ‘affordable’ homes) still make economic sense to them? Will they wait for the decision of Rother District Council (as Rye Town Council can only recommend) and if that too goes against them, will they take it to appeal? The coming months will doubtless reveal all, but one cannot help feeling that this saga has some way to run yet.
It is, perhaps, worth noting that the requirement for Rye’s contribution for new homes in the Rother area in the 2014 land availability assessment, did not include the Lower School site, with all of the new homes then required being catered for on other designated plots.
Rother has recently introduced a scheme for objectors to petition their Planning Committee and this scheme, like the recently proposed petrol station on Udimore Road, may lead to Rother giving a hearing to public views.
Photos : John Minter and Rye News Library
Image Credits: Kenneth Bird .
If by chance local MP Amber Rudd does pull it out of the bag and get HS1 to Hastings funded. Additional parking and access to station must be considered.
The station car park is unable to cope as it is on Thursday. Should it be made for the sole use of rail users and other cars directed to Gibbet Marsh car park.