With just over two weeks to go until the deadline for comments, the vast majority of people who have submitted their views to Rother District Council’s website support the plans for the new supermarket.
The Aldi store is part of the development on Winchelsea Road in Rye which also includes homes and retirement housing. Plans were officially submitted to RDC earlier in July, with the council asking for opinions on the plans until August 9. Whilst there are three separate planning applications, the supermarket proposal has attracted the most comments, with many writing the new store is “long overdue”.
Among those in favour:
“This is very much needed for the local residents to have affordable food shopping within walking distance.” Lisa McCarthy from Broad Oak.
“I would welcome this addition to Rye. As a Camber resident for 10 years and having to travel at least 30 minutes in any direction to find an affordable supermarket for my weekly family shop, this would be great. Similar establishments in Camber and Rye often have inflated pricing so to have a regular priced competitive supermarket nearby would be a delight.” Louise Milton from Camber.
“Fully support this. Would be a great asset to the town and not only provide jobs but also some much needed price competition to the current local supermarket.” Rebecca Dufy from Tollgate in Rye.
“Rye absolutely needs this, I have to travel every week to do my food shop because there isn’t an affordable alternative in Rye.” Natalie Arter from Bankside in Rye.
“Strongly support! Let’s hope public opinion and support wins!!” Sarah Buss from Pottingfield Road in Rye.
As well as individual comments, the RDC planning website also lists over 60 different people making the same comment on all three aspects of the proposal. “The combined plans will reduce travel times and improve access to affordable, high quality food, as well as releasing local housing back into the market for families and first-time-buyers. The plans provide comprehensive redevelopment of a brownfield site, in line with the council’s aspirations and preserving important green spaces. I hope that the council will act in the interests of local people by approving these three applications.”
There are considerably fewer objections lodged on the RDC website so far. Concerns about traffic, flooding and sewage are mentioned in several of the online submissions. This is an example of the handful of objections – so far. “The proposal of 120 car spaces and opening hours of 7am to 11 pm is a definite no. The chaos that traffic will cause from an extra estimated 500 cars a week will change the character of Rye forever in a negative way and is out of scale with its surroundings, no one thinks through these problems beforehand. Light pollution, noise pollution and traffic pollution will turn the town into just another urban redevelopment.”
You can leave a comment about the proposals on the Rother District Council website until August 9.
Supermarket – Aldi – Click here
Homes – Decimus – Click here
Retirement housing – McCarthy Stone – Click here
Last week Rye Town Council gave its support to the supermarket and homes plans, though with conditions mainly relating to the access to the site on Winchelsea Road. It firmly rejected the retirement living proposals.
Rother District Council’s planning committee will discuss the development on September 5.
Image Credits: Harris Partnership .