The full meeting of Rye Town Council on Monday May 13 heard distressing stories showing the impact closing some of Rye’s public toilets is having on locals and visitors.
The three-hour meeting at the town hall also debated the controversial proposal to spend more than £6000 on new robes for elected members, the continuing fallout from January’s stormy council meeting, a long-awaited acknowledgement about the climate emergency, and updates on planning in the town and Rye Leisure Centre.
Appalling conditions
During the discussion on Rye’s public toilets both councillors and members of the public shared often harrowing stories of how people have been affected by the closures and poor conditions. The toilets in the Gun Garden and The Strand remain shut because of cutbacks at Rother District council, and the state of the toilets that remain open was described as “appalling” and “reputationally damaging to a tourist town like Rye”.
Councillors heard in graphic detail the scale of the problem, particularly for the elderly and parents of young children. It was noted that both Pett and Rye Harbour had managed to find solutions to the problem, with some expressing surprise that Rye Town Council had taken so long to fully acknowledge the scale of the issue and come up with a plan.
The council heard that money was available from Rother, but this was again described as insufficient following long-running talks. After an impassioned plea from former Mayor Andi Rivett to get the toilets open by the Spring Bank Holiday, Rye Town Council approved “urgent interim action” and the formation of a committee to come up with a solution to keep all four toilets open and in good repair.
Update: On Wednesday May 15 Rye Town Council announced an additional meeting at the town hall to discuss the toilets. It will take place this Monday May 20 at 6.30pm when councillors will consider a briefing paper on “expediting the re-opening and managing of the closed facilities until 30 September 2024 (to cover the summer season).” The meeting is open to the public.
Value for money
The lengthy debate on whether to replace the councillors’ robes saw more passionate debate. The gowns, which are almost 100 years old and in poor repair, have become divisive in Rye with some attending the council meeting regarding them as a vital to the town’s traditions and history, with others seeing them as unnecessary during the cost-of-living crisis. The cost of the new robes was originally budgeted at over £6000.
Much of the debate between councillors focussed on finding a way forward that was the best value for money, starting with talks with a refurbishment supplier instead of replacing the gowns. Limiting robe use to “ceremonial” public occasions which could add to their useful life was also discussed.
A packed agenda
The meeting – the first with our new mayor Andy Stuart – started with wide ranging applause and the presentation of the past mayor’s badge to Andi Rivett. Reference was made to his extensive achievements and kindness as he performed the role.
The full meeting of Rye Town Council also discussed:
Inclusive Entertainment Rye Arts Festival were awarded a £500 grant to ensure that free events remain part of the festival. Activities will be largely youth oriented and include the participation of the Children’s Laureate.
Stable allotment management The long running and sometimes overheated discussions on the future management of the allotments now seems close to resolution, with agreement between council and allotment representatives on a way forward. The council now has now completed the transfer of the freehold from Rother.
Securing our swimming pool The huge task of transferring the Leisure Centre into local management is progressing, but hard work remains between now and Christmas to complete the necessary formalities. There remains the not inconsiderable task of raising some £300-350k by the beginning of 2025 to establish long-term financial future for the pool.
Climate emergency The council recognised the climate change emergency that could fundamentally affect businesses and residents in Rye. While Rother has an active programme in place, recently presented at the Rye Sustainable Living Forum, the council have so far not raised this as a priority. A committee is now planned, under the leadership of Deputy Mayor Chris Hoggart.
Mayoral Generosity Due to underspending Andi Rivett proposed small donations to youth-based activities involving exchange visits and supporting children experiencing
deprivation in our community. The Town Crier Championship will also be supported in 2025.
Code of conduct Following January’s meeting when tempers flared over Rye’s allotments, there was a lengthy discussion dedicated to apologies and working together. After debating moving on from some of the contentious statements made earlier in the year, agreement was reached on reinforcing the established code of conduct.
Meetings & Memberships A new council schedule was agreed and representatives on various established committees and “task and finish” groups confirmed. Twenty minutes was also spent discussing membership of the Cinque Ports Federation, with no change occurring.
Planning the future The proposed route for the King Charles III coastal path was discussed with concerns over pedestrian safety at the junction of Rye Harbour Road and Winchelsea Road and Rock Channel. The route was considered to be a major benefit to Rye and the tourist industry and was fully supported. Input was also received from property developer Decimus in relation to the proposed construction of retirement flats on Winchelsea Road. The company’s argument is based on local need due to the ongoing change in age profile in the Rye area. Some scepticism was voiced but the council decided to await the planning application which is believed to be imminent. Access to the site remains a critical issue.
Rye Town Council will publish full minutes of the meeting at some point in the future.
The timetable for the rest of 2024’s full meetings of the council will also be listed on the council’s website eventually.
Image Credits: Col Everett .
Interesting reading about the proposed route for the new King Charles lll coastal path, Rye Town Council must insist as custodians of this town, that safety measures are put in place first at Rye harbour road and at Rock Channel, for the safety of local people, and visitors alike, despite what our representative on East Sussex County Council, Keith Glaziers denial not so long ago,about this dangerous junction.
I’m told a foot / cycle bridge across the river linking Rye Harbour and Camber was proposed once. The bridge would have to lift to let shipping through. The cost would have been enormous, and the EA is said to have objected. Another drawback is that walkers would have been diverted away from Rye – not good for trade.
Progress on the discussions between the Town Council and Rother about public conveniences (and management of Rother’s open spaces in Rye) has been held up because of Rother’s inability to provide up-to-date information on running costs. The last information provided was in July 2022 and relates to the year 2021-22. Rother is also continuing to refuse to transfer freeholds. If parishes acquired these they would have a greater incentive to invest in – and improve – the facilities.
Being “coveniently” placed adjacent to the train station, the bus station and the market car park, the public toilets opposite the station entrance are going to be the first “stop” for many tourists arriving in Rye, keen, nay perhaps desperate, to “spend a penny” before commencing their tour of our town. But what a disgrace their first impression is going to be; these loos have been a disgrace for many years. People will tend to treat such facilities badly, thus worsening the situation. If the facilities look smart, clean and well looked after then most people will treat them accordingly. Money spent on their refurbishment will be well spent and the £6k budget for gowns would make a good start !
Well said Keith.
Perhaps the ‘young ladies’ who have defaced the walls in the ladies toilets at the station with graffiti could be traced. They have a very distinctive style, (worth seeing in one of the cubicles as it celebrates Rye College) and made to use their obvious skills to redecorate the walls.
What our valued tourists must feel when they see these facilities, goodness knows, but at least they are open.
Might I suggest that those who feel as strongly as we do regarding the closure or condition of public toilets, goes to the Council Meeting on Monday evening 6.30pm to make their voices heard. We are on the way to becoming a third world country with the gradual running down of so may amenities.
Closure of public lavatories is an abrogation of duty towards the public. Issues of cleanliness, or lack of, have concerned local government throughout history. For local government cleanliness is possibly the highest priority of all. though highways might be thought to compete for that spot.
As a resident of Pett Level I was interested to read that Pett had found a solution to the problem of our public toilets. Perhaps someone from Rye Town Council would like to enlighten me as to what the solution is because as far as I can see our toilets remain resolutely boarded up and shut.
Your Parish Clerk (Pett) has advised that RDC has agreed to fund 50% of the running costs of the Pett Level toilets, on a trial basis, until October.
To add to what Richard has written: Rother’s maintenance team is currently putting the Pett Level lavatory into good repair. The old gravity water system has been replaced by mains pressure, the roof is being sealed and there will be a deep clean. I anticipate the lavatories will be open in time for next week’s bank holiday.
Just to highlight the safety of pedestrians with reference to the King Charles Coastal path, I for one replied to the notice of advice received by affected residents some months ago drawing attention to the lack of a safe pedestrian route from the village road to the beginning of the beach road. Earlier this year we were treated to the provision of double yellow lines on the right side of the road as some car owners chose to park outside of the free car park provided. Fewer cars do park there now, they park on the left side of the road instead, where there are no yellow lines of course. You couldn’t make it up, could you.
Vans continue to present an issue as they cannot fit under the height gantry preventing vans entering the car park at all. Does anyone know of a gantry which could rise and lower with the opening times of the car park please, would be much appreciated. Missing the detail leads to scepticism.
Kate Humphreys is right,You Couldn’t make it Up, that also includes the recently painted double yellow lines at the top of the harbour road,where recently East Sussex Highways has decided let’s move one parking problem to another,why these lines were not extended to the jehovas witnesses hut is sheer madness, as they have now caused a dangerous pinch point on the bend, and it certainly is an accident waiting to happen.
This problem was brought home to me this week when I needed a toilet with some urgency. I headed for the nearest ones at the Strand and I was distressed to see the shutters locked with a sign indicating that the toilets were closed ‘for the winter’ as an experiment.
The toilets at Rye Harbour are managed by Icklesham Parish Council which would set a precedent for Rye Town Council.
Rother seems to be in terminal decline and failing with its responsibilities.
Rother’s policy, following central government’s programme (and central government’s failure to fund local authorities properly) is to devolve local facilities to town and parish councils where possible. I support that policy, bringing responsibility closer to the people affected.
Pett Parish Council has now entered an agreement with Rother which will see the reopening of the Pett Level lavatories in time for the late May bank holiday. The lavatories are currently being refurbished. The arrangement will keep the lavatory open for this season at least.