For those living in Rye Harbour a frequently recurring topic of conversation is the selfish and thoughtless parking at the top of Harbour Road. Often large container lorries are forced into the middle of it to avoid cars parked dangerously near to the bend and the situation has worsened as people have sought out free parking after paid parking was introduced in the town. The Harbour Road is just not wide enough at that point to cope with the volume of cars there.
Locals have asked many times for double yellow line parking restrictions to be introduced and local councillors have also lodged their requests but no-one held out much hope. On Monday, January 15 workmen arrived and organised the painting of the lines preventing cars from parking from the mouth of the Harbour Road down to the marina.
An East Sussex County Council spokesperson said: “We continually review our parking schemes to make sure they meet the changing needs of local communities. The measures in Harbour Road were included in our annual parking review following requests from the public and local councillors.”
In response to photographs of the lines, posted on Facebook, there were various comments including one by Jane Steen who said: “If there was ever a junction that needed a set of traffic lights, this is it.”
Chris McGrath responded: “There was a plan in the 80s I think involving a roundabout. Two-way traffic lights with a pedestrian phase would be relatively easy.”
Willow said: “At last!! Let’s hope it is enforced. This was needed years ago.”
Barry Yates: “Long overdue, especially with hazardous bulk liquids going to a COMAH (control of major accident hazards) site.”
Returning home from Rye at 4pm on Monday evening a red car was parked right in the middle of the lines! Let’s just wait and see how effective the yellow lines are.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , East Sussex County Council .
It’s only taken twenty years, it should have been done when the cycle path was put in.
Why do the lines stop on the left hand side.
So where are people supposed to park to walk their dogs on the footpaths around Camber Castle?
Great. Now how about some sort of relief for the rest of Harbour Road? Or is it a dodge-ems course?
That would be the part that goes through the heart of the village, the part that, especially in nice weather, the 400,000 visitors planned for by creators of the Nature Reserve Visitor Centre traverse, adding thousands of extra vehicles to the mix of local residents (about 400), delivery vans and lorries, the pre-themeparkification amout of Reserve traffic, the caravan park folks, the bus, etc..
I have seen many vehicles mount curbs and pavements in the summer to weave along, trying to get in and out of little Rye Harbour. Oh yeah, forgot to mention emergency vehicles – ambulances, fire trucks that need clear and safe passage. Haven’t seen them on the curbs yet, phew!
The general state of traffic flow in and out of the village at peak visitor times – soon to start up again – creates a disaster waiting to happen.